Current Situation Overview
This analysis examines the rapidly evolving crisis involving U.S. military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, Russia’s response, and the broader legal and geopolitical implications of these events.
Key Developments (June 22-23, 2025)
The U.S. Strikes
On Sunday, June 22, 2025, the United States conducted “Operation Midnight Hammer,” striking three Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. The operation employed 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs specifically designed to penetrate underground facilities, utilizing sophisticated decoy and deception tactics to avoid Iranian resistance. The strategic timing coincided with the escalating Israel-Iran conflict, with President Trump later characterizing the strikes as having “incredible overwhelming success” and confirming that all 30 Tomahawk missiles “hit their mark perfectly.”
Russia’s Response
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, currently Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council, made inflammatory statements claiming that “several unspecified countries were ready to directly supply Iran with their own nuclear warheads.” He characterized the U.S. strikes as a “dangerous escalation” and accused Trump of having “pushed the US into another war.” These statements represent a significant escalation in Russian rhetoric regarding the crisis.
