During the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit in the Netherlands on Wednesday (25th), U.S. President Trump stated that Iran agreed to a ceasefire with Israel primarily because the recent U.S. military strike on Iranian nuclear facilities, codenamed “Operation Midnight Hammer,” had achieved significant results. This operation precisely targeted three crucial nuclear facilities within Iran, dealing a heavy blow to its nuclear program and forcing Iran to compromise.
Experts pointed out that the decisive action by the U.S. military not only reshaped the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East but also had far-reaching implications for global strategic games. It created strong deterrence against the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) strategy in the Taiwan Strait, compelling Beijing to reassess the risks and costs of its military adventurism.
On midnight of June 21st, the U.S. military, in conjunction with Israel, carried out precision strikes on Iran’s Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear facilities. The operation involved 7 B-2 stealth bombers, F-35 fighters, F-15E Strike Eagles, and 125 other military aircraft, deploying 14 GBU-57 bunker buster bombs and 30 Tomahawk cruise missiles, in coordination with a comprehensive intelligence monitoring system, successfully destroying the target facilities.
General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stated in a press conference, “This operation demonstrated the unparalleled global projection capability and precision strike technology of the U.S. military.” Damage assessments revealed that the core infrastructure of the three facilities was completely destroyed, crippling Iran’s nuclear centrifuge production lines.
According to Rafael Grossi, Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), due to the sensitivity of the explosives used and the centrifuges to vibrations, it is expected that this attack will result in severe damage. The Israeli Atomic Energy Commission confirmed that the critical structure of the underground Fordow nuclear facility was completely destroyed, delaying Iran’s nuclear weapons development by several years.
Dr. Shen Ming Shi from the Taiwan Institute for National Defense and Security Studies told Dajiyuan, “The tactical combination of the U.S. military’s B-2 and bunker buster bombs validated its unique capability to strike deep underground targets. This technological advantage is equally applicable in a Taiwan Strait conflict and could pose a lethal threat to the CCP’s underground command facilities.”
Trump had previously issued a public warning that if the CCP were to use force against Taiwan, he would order bombings on Beijing.
Iran’s air defense system, including the HQ-9 missiles and radar technology provided by the CCP, was no match for the B-2 stealth bomber during the U.S. “Operation Midnight Hammer.”
U.S.-based commentator Tang Jingyuan told Dajiyuan, “The B-2 stealth bomber from the U.S. military went undetected by Iran’s radar throughout the mission, indicating fundamental flaws in the air defense technology exported by the CCP. If a similar scenario were to occur in the Taiwan Strait, the PLA’s air defense system might be equally vulnerable.”
Dr. Shen Ming Shi said, “The U.S. military’s collaborative combat capabilities in space, air, and cyberspace represent the pinnacle of global military technology. There is at least a generation’s worth of technological gap between the CCP and the U.S. in satellite reconnaissance, stealth technology, and command control systems.”
The “Operation Midnight Hammer” forced Tehran to sign a ceasefire agreement with Israel within 48 hours. This military strike not only destroyed Iran’s nuclear facilities but also shook its strategic foundation in the Middle East.
U.S. Middle East envoy Steven Witkoff stated, “Iran’s nuclear capability has been significantly weakened, and its regional influence will decrease significantly.” Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu referred to this operation as a “turning point for Middle East peace.”
Iran has long supported Hamas, Hezbollah, and Houthi forces, forming an anti-Israel and anti-U.S. “axis.”
Tang Jingyuan believes, “Iran, as a key pillar of the ‘new axis of evil’ with China, Russia, and North Korea, the loss of its nuclear capabilities constitutes a strategic blow to this axis system. The U.S. has regained strategic initiative in the Middle East, allowing it to focus on the Indo-Pacific region more directly, thereby restraining the CCP.”
The “Operation Midnight Hammer” signifies the further consolidation of the U.S.’ strategic leadership position in the new Cold War, while the deterrence effect on the CCP’s Taiwan Strait strategy has sparked significant public attention.
U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Admiral Samuel Paparo explicitly stated at the end of last year that the U.S. military has been preparing to respond to any potential contingencies that the CCP might provoke. The U.S. will respond to the PLA’s Rocket Force, Air Force, and Navy.
Tang Jingyuan stated, “Through this decisive military action, Trump has powerfully demonstrated that his tough stance is not mere political rhetoric or hollow threats, decisively breaking the CCP’s strategic misjudgment that he ‘only talks tough.’ This will compel the CCP to conduct more cautious and realistic risk assessments on the Taiwan Strait issue, recalculating the potential costs of military adventurism.”
Dr. Shen Ming Shi analyzed, “The U.S. military’s technological superiority and rapid response capabilities significantly raise the cost of PLA’s military adventurism in the Taiwan Strait. An attack on Taiwan may not only fail but could also trigger full-scale U.S. intervention, leading to a strategic disaster.”
Tang Jingyuan also believes, “Trump’s decisive action has psychologically deterred the decision-makers of the CCP, forcing them to be more cautious on the Taiwan Strait issue.”
The Taiwanese military has enhanced joint exercises with the U.S., focusing on improving anti-stealth and anti-missile capabilities. The U.S. has planned to provide Taiwan with an additional $2 billion in military aid, including Patriot missiles and drone systems, to address potential threats.
The “Operation Midnight Hammer” has also had a significant impact on the CCP’s position in the Middle East. Iran is a core part of the CCP’s “Belt and Road” strategy and energy security, with 90% of its oil exports going to China. In 2021, China and Iran signed a $400 billion comprehensive cooperation plan covering energy, infrastructure, finance, and more.
Dr. Shen Ming Shi stated, “This operation highlights the absolute superiority of the U.S. in military technology, intelligence capabilities, and alliance coordination. The CCP’s strategic layout in the Taiwan Strait and the Middle East faces comprehensive adjustments due to the U.S. military’s decisive actions.”
He further analyzed from an economic perspective, saying that large-scale infrastructure projects of the CCP in Iran have come to a standstill due to regional conflicts, leading to massive capital withdrawals by Chinese enterprises. Billions of dollars in investments face tremendous uncertainty, posing a long-term structural challenge to the CCP’s so-called Eurasian continental bridge strategy.
Tang Jingyuan analyzed that if the Iranian regime undergoes a change and turns pro-U.S., the CCP would lose a critical source of oil supply, leading to an energy security gap. Even more critically, the CCP’s massive investments and expanding influence in the Middle East would suffer a comprehensive setback, with the core support of the “Belt and Road” initiative under fundamental challenge.
“The global geopolitical game will become even more complex, and the CCP’s strategic space will be further squeezed,” he said.