In a striking contrast to the narratives spun by mainstream media, the recent airstrikes launched by the United States and Israel have proven to be shockingly effective. Over the past fortnight, these strikes have caused substantial damage to Iran’s nuclear ambitions and resulted in the elimination of key military personnel, including high-ranking officials within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)—an organization designated as a terrorist group by the U.S. and operating under the auspices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Tehran witnessed a monumental state funeral this past Saturday, commemorating the lives of 60 individuals—including military commanders, nuclear scientists, and their families—lost in what has been termed Iran’s twelve-day war with Israel. State-run media reported attendance figures exceeding one million, a turnout so massive that government offices closed their doors to allow public employees to participate. This procession not only highlighted the depth of the tragedy but also underscored the significant impact on Iran’s military and scientific leadership.
The combined assaults have reportedly resulted in over 1,000 fatalities, with a grim tally of at least 417 civilian casualties, as documented by a human rights organization based in the U.S. In retaliation, Iran launched a barrage of more than 550 ballistic missiles at Israel, causing 28 deaths before a ceasefire was brokered.
Amidst the somber atmosphere, chants of “Death to America” and “Death to Israel” reverberated through the crowds, revealing the political pressure mounting on Iran’s leadership in the wake of these strategic setbacks.
The deceased included some of the most influential military and scientific minds in Iran, marking a critical blow to the nation’s senior leadership reminiscent of losses sustained during the Iran-Iraq War of the 1980s. Intelligence reports indicate that around 30 senior commanders perished, including Major General Hossein Salami, the IRGC’s head, and Mohammad Bagheri, the chief of staff of Iran’s armed forces. Also among the fallen was Major General Gholamali Rashid, commander of the IRGC’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters.
Notably, Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force and a pivotal figure in Iran’s missile program, was killed. He had previously overseen missile attacks against Israel and was involved in the controversial downing of a Ukrainian passenger plane in 2020.
The airstrikes were not limited to military figures; they also decimated Iran’s nuclear expertise. At least 11 nuclear scientists were confirmed killed, including prominent individuals from the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran and leading universities. Among the casualties were Fereydoun Abbasi, the former head of the Atomic Energy Organization, and Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, president of Islamic Azad University.
Additionally, key figures within the regime, such as Ali Ghanaatkar, the infamous prosecutor of Evin Prison known for targeting dissidents, were eliminated in the strikes.
Israeli and U.S. operations extended their reach beyond Tehran, systematically dismantling IRGC command structures and proxy networks. Saeed Izadi, a long-standing commander associated with coordinating efforts between Iran and Hamas, was reportedly among those targeted, labeled by Israeli officials as a principal orchestrator of the October 7 massacre.
Further losses included Behnam Shahriyari, commander of the Quds Force’s Weapons Transfer Unit, responsible for supplying arms to Iran’s regional proxies. Numerous intelligence leaders and field commanders connected to Iran’s proxy operations were also eliminated.
The Institute for Science and International Security has stated that the coordinated strikes inflicted unparalleled damage on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. At Natanz, the facility crucial to Iran’s enrichment efforts, underground structures housing over 18,400 centrifuges were severely compromised, rendering them non-operational. The destruction also included the complete obliteration of the above-ground Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant, which had been central to centrifuge research and development.
Following the Israeli bombardments, U.S. forces executed precision “double tap” strikes utilizing GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bombs, targeting the same entry points to maximize destruction. The Fordow facility, a key site for enrichment, was hit with twelve MOPs, collapsing vital infrastructure.
The Isfahan nuclear complex faced three waves of attacks, resulting in the destruction of critical facilities involved in uranium processing and severe damage to underground storage sites.
Conservative estimates suggest that the immediate financial toll of these nuclear strikes on Iran ranges from $2 to $4 billion in direct damage, with potential reconstruction costs soaring to between $5 and $10 billion. This figure encompasses $200–500 million in lost centrifuge hardware, $1–2 billion for rebuilding underground facilities, and considerable delays in enrichment capacity. Iran’s recovery efforts will likely be impeded by inflation, increased security demands, and international procurement restrictions.
Beyond its nuclear program, Iran’s broader military apparatus suffered extensive damage. Numerous ballistic missile production sites, storage facilities, radar stations, air defense systems, and command centers of the Quds Force were obliterated. Intelligence assessments confirm the destruction of dozens of missile launchers and underground silos across several provinces, alongside IRGC-run ammunition depots and critical power infrastructure.
The Institute concluded that these strikes have “effectively destroyed Iran’s centrifuge enrichment program,” predicting that it would take years for Iran to regain its previous capabilities. IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir echoed this sentiment, asserting, “We significantly damaged the nuclear program, and I can also say that we set it back by years—I repeat, years.”
