Trump recalls ‘Operation Midnight Hammer’ as Iran ceasefire deadline looms

Operation Midnight Hammer involved a massive US strike on Iran last June following nearly two weeks of Israeli aerial bombardments.

Donald Trump reminded the world on Monday that Operation Midnight Hammer completely destroyed Iran’s “nuclear dust sites.” The US President noted that “digging it out will be a long and difficult process.” This operation occurred last June after Israel spent 12 days bombing Islamic Republic targets.

Trump took to Truth Social to praise the military teams involved in the mission. He claimed media outlets “fail to give our great aviators the credit they deserve.” He further accused journalists of “always trying to demean and belittle – LOSERS!!!”.

On June 22 last year, the Air Force and Navy hit three major Iranian nuclear sites. These targets included the Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan facilities. US forces deployed B-2 Spirit stealth bombers to drop heavy bunker buster bombs.

This attack marked the official US entry into the “twelve-day war.” That conflict started with Israeli strikes on June 13 and ended on June 24, 2025. Peace was brief before the US and Israel launched new strikes on February 28. This action sparked a full-scale regional war and closed the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

US-Iran war in limbo

Missile and drone exchanges lasted over a month before a recent pause. Pakistan brokered a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran. That truce expires this Wednesday, April 22, and both nations are preparing for renewed combat.

The White House stated Vice President JD Vance is ready to return to Islamabad. Pakistan is preparing for a second round of peace talks to stabilize global markets. Trump told PBS News that “we agreed to be there” and expected Iran to attend. He warned that if the truce ends, “lots of bombs start going off.”

Tehran has not confirmed its participation in the upcoming Islamabad talks. Iranian officials accused the US of violating the truce through a naval blockade. Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Trump wants a “surrender table” rather than a fair negotiation.

Ghalibaf stated on X that Iran will not negotiate under the shadow of threats. He claimed Iran has spent two weeks preparing “new cards on the battlefield.” The Revolutionary Guards also threatened to target any unauthorized ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump countered by accusing Tehran of harassing vessels in the vital waterway. A major sticking point remains Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium. Trump claimed Iran agreed to hand it over, but Tehran’s foreign ministry denied this. Spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei stated that transferring uranium was “never raised as an option” during negotiations.