US Military Strikes on Iranian Nuclear Facilities Prompt Heightened Threat Assessment
US Military Strikes on Iranian Nuclear Facilities Prompt Heightened Threat Assessment
On June 21, 2025, the United States military conducted airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities: Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. President Donald Trump described the operation, dubbed “Operation Midnight Hammer,” as a “spectacular military success,” claiming the enrichment facilities were “completely and totally obliterated.” The Pentagon confirmed the use of 75 precision-guided weapons. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine later stated that stealth bombers deployed from Missouri were a decoy, while the actual strike team targeted Iran from a different location.
Following the strikes, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) bulletin on June 22, 2025, warning of a heightened threat environment within the United States. The advisory cited an increased risk of both physical and cyberattacks in response to the military action. The DHS specifically noted a heightened likelihood of low-level cyberattacks against US networks by pro-Iranian hacktivist groups, and the possibility of more sophisticated cyber operations targeting critical infrastructure by Iranian government-affiliated actors. The advisory also highlighted the increased risk of violent extremists within the US independently mobilizing to violence, particularly if Iranian leadership issued a religious ruling calling for retaliatory attacks.
The DHS bulletin emphasized that both hacktivist and Iranian government-affiliated actors routinely target poorly secured US networks and internet-connected devices. The advisory further stated that Iran maintains a long-standing intent to target US government officials it holds responsible for the 2020 killing of Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani, and that the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict could contribute to US-based individuals plotting additional attacks.
The DHS warning follows a pattern of previous Iranian cyber activity. In February 2025, the US government sanctioned six senior officials of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Cyber-Electronic Command (IRGC-CEC) for “destabilizing and potentially escalatory” cyberattacks on critical infrastructure, including an Israeli manufacturer of programmable logic controllers (PLCs). In October 2024, intelligence and law enforcement agencies in Australia, Canada, and the US warned of a year-long Iran-backed hacking campaign targeting multiple critical infrastructure sectors. Prior to the November 2024 US Presidential election, Iranian state-backed actors targeted candidates in an attempt to sow discord and access sensitive data, including a hack of one of Trump’s campaign websites.
John Hultquist, chief analyst at the Google Threat Intelligence Group, noted that since October 7, 2024 terror attacks on Israel by Hamas, Iran had primarily focused its disruptive cyber-attack efforts on Israel. He emphasized the importance of increased vigilance by organizations and individuals, suggesting that while Iran’s past disruptive cyberattacks have had mixed results, the potential impact on individual enterprises remains serious. Hultquist also highlighted Iran’s ongoing cyberespionage targeting individuals associated with Iran policy, as well as telecoms, airlines, and hospitality organizations.
In response to the heightened threat, the US State Department issued a worldwide alert advising US citizens abroad to exercise increased caution due to the Israel-Iran conflict, potential travel disruptions, and the possibility of demonstrations against US citizens and interests. Thousands of American citizens were reportedly evacuated from Israel, and non-essential staff were ordered out of the US Embassy in Lebanon.
Guam, while not specifically threatened, also increased its Force Protection Condition to “Bravo” as a precautionary measure. Local officials emphasized that while there was no imminent threat to Guam or Micronesia, residents were advised to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on social media that Iran reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interests, and people in response to the US strikes, referencing the UN Charter and self-defense provisions.
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