In a dramatic escalation of the current Israel-Iran standoff, satellite pictures have recorded the moment when the United States conducted an airstrike on Iran’s Fordow nuclear enrichment plant. The strike, as confirmed by US President Donald Trump, is a game-changer in the already tense regional dynamics.
The European Meteosat-9 satellite, as quoted by Faytuks Network, registered an abrupt flash over the Fordow enrichment facility around 22:30 UTC. The flash, which was observed at a wavelength of 3.90 micrometers on midnight microphysics scans, was a sign of a high-temperature event that is usually linked to military operations.
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Faytuks Network: At 22:30 UTC, Meteosat-9 detected a flash over the Fordow enrichment plant. The event registered at 3.90 micrometers and was visible on nighttime microphysics scans. The location aligns with the salt plain east of Fordow. pic.twitter.com/Uk8hg6VBuI
— Faytuks Network (@FaytuksNetwork) June 22, 2025
The flash was over the salt flats east of the Fordow plant, one of Iran’s most heavily guarded below-ground nuclear facilities. Hewn out of a mountain by the city of Qom, Fordow is at the hub of Iran’s uranium enrichment activity.
Further, The New York Times quoted statistics from NASA’s fire observation system, which also detected a strong heat signature close to the Fordow facility. “One detection was around 30 minutes before President Trump’s statement on the US strikes,” the publication stated.
Trump Confirms Strike
President Trump subsequently confirmed the strike through a post on Truth Social, stating, “We have finished our very successful attack on the three Nuclear facilities in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. All aircraft are now out of Iranian air space. Entire payload of BOMBS was released at the main location, Fordow. All aircraft safely on their way home. Congratulations to our fantastic American Warriors. There is no other military in the World capable of doing this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE! Thank you for your concern with this matter.”
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 21, 2025
Trump reiterated that the strike hit Fordow as the ‘primary’ facility, as well as the other major facilities at Natanz and Isfahan.
Warnings Prior to Attack
The attack followed a two-week ultimatum issued by the US to Iran to secure a diplomatic settlement to escalating tensions. With no breakthrough achieved, Washington proceeded with its military action, citing concerns over Iran’s progressing nuclear program.
The US and its allies have long believed that Iran should not be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons, threatening that if Tehran can do so, it will pose a threat to American and international security. The concerns mounted after Israel carried out a pre-emptive strike against several Iranian targets on June 13.
Though Trump has persisted in advocating for diplomatic talks and called on Iran to pursue a peace agreement, this recent airstrike has raised questions about the prospects of near-term negotiations.
Following previous warnings from Washington, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had warned the US not to meddle militarily.
The Americans ought to be aware that any US military action will certainly be accompanied by irreversible harm. The US intervention in this issue (war) is 100% to its disadvantage. The harm that it will incur will be much more than any other harm that Iran will face,” he had cautioned.
To date, Tehran hasn’t made an official comment on the US airstrikes, including the one that hit the buried Fordow facility. The Iranian leadership’s silence has raised many eyebrows about what they might do next.
