Iran’s leaders immediately vowed retaliation. Reportedly, this operation is the first known operational use of a 30,000-pound bunker buster bomb.
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After five rounds of stalled nuclear negotiations and recent airstrikes on three Iranian atomic sites, tensions between Iran, the United States, and Israel have escalated sharply—casting doubt on any near-term prospects for diplomacy and raising fears of a broader regional conflict.
Although Tehran and the U.S. were scheduled to resume the sixth round of nuclear talks in the coming days, everything unraveled after the U.S. launched Operation Midnight Hammer on 22 June 2025, targeting Iran’s uranium enrichment facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and the nuclear Centre in Isfahan. Iran’s leaders immediately vowed retaliation. Reportedly, this operation is the first known operational use of a 30,000-pound bunker buster bomb.
Anticipation was high for Iran’s response—until 23 June 2025, when Iran struck Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, which hosts approximately 10,000 U.S. troops and serves as CENTCOM’s forward command Centre. The IRGC confirmed the “powerful” missile attack, while Qatar reported that its air defenses intercepted all missiles and no one was harmed.
This strike was clearly strategic: Al-Udeid is the largest U.S. military base in the Middle East. Videos from Doha captured panicked scenes, although Tehran reassured that missiles were aimed away from civilian areas:
This action does not pose any threat to the friendly and brotherly country, Qatar... Iran remains committed to maintaining warm and historic relations with Qatar.
According to Reuters and Al Jazeera, Iranian short- and medium-range ballistic missiles were used, but Qatar’s air defense systems intercepted them, and no injuries were reported.
The strike caused widespread panic and forced Qatar’s Ministry of Defence to evacuate Al-Udeid, leading many to wonder if the conflict was spiraling toward full-scale war.
By 24 June 2025, U.S. President Trump announced that a ceasefire had begun between Israel and Iran, but Israel’s military did not confirm it:
There was no confirmation from Israel, and the Israeli military said two volleys of missiles were launched from Iran towards Israel in the early hours of Tuesday.
Reuters also reported that “an Iranian official” said Tehran had tentatively agreed to a ceasefire—but only if Israel stopped its strikes.
