Iran’s Nuclear Program Has Been Hit Hard, but Won’t Be Knocked Out If Fordo Remains

The Only Munition That Can Reach Fordo’s Underground Facility Is the American 30,000-Pound Gbu-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator

The war’s link to Gaza is not that Israel wanted to use the war with Iran as a distraction from Gaza, but rather that the 7 October attack launched by Hamas and the subsequent conflict with the wider “axis of resistance” led to a shift towards a much higher risk tolerance and confrontational posture on Israel’s part towards Iran and the axis. An Israeli F-16 takes off for a mission against targets in Iran.

Taking the podium at his first press conference since deciding to strike Iran’s nuclear program, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday read out Israel’s achievements in Operation Rising Lion.

The list is impressive. Israeli forces have taken out Iran’s military leadership, hit hundreds of ballistic missiles and dozens of launchers, wiped out half of Iran’s UAVs, and established air superiority in western Iran.

On the nuclear front, Netanyahu also has much he can point to. Israel has killed 10 senior nuclear scientists, and promises to reach more. It has caused extensive damage to key nuclear sites as well.

But – as Israel has learned in Gaza – impressive tactical achievements do not automatically amount to operational success, and damage to some core elements of Iran’s nuclear program does not necessarily mean Israel has set it back very far.

Published originally on June 17, 2025.

Read the full article at the Times of Israel.

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Israel & Zionism Iran US policy nuclear weapons

Lazar Berman

Lazar Berman is the diplomatic correspondent at the Times of Israel, where he also covers Christian Affairs. He holds an M.A. in Security Studies from Georgetown University and taught at Salahuddin University in Iraqi Kurdistan. Berman is a reserve captain in the IDF’s Commando Brigade and served in a Bedouin unit during his active service.