Iran's nuclear program has been a focal point of international scrutiny for decades. In 2003, Iran suspended its formal nuclear weapons program, and claims its program is for peaceful purposes only, yet analysts and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have criticized such claims.

The attack on Iran's three main nuclear sites was the largest operational strike ever by B-2 stealth bombers, and the second-longest B-2 operation ever flown, surpassed only by those following the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States by al Qaeda.

Fordow is Iran's most important nuclear enrichment facility, buried deep inside a mountain to guard it from attacks. The main halls are believed to be some 80 to 90 meters (262 to 295 feet) below ground.