Following the release of a new report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) warning that Iran could resume its nuclear program within months, a new proposal has emerged in the U.S. Congress involving the possible transfer of B-2 stealth bombers and bunker-buster bombs to the Israeli Air Force. This would provide Israel with a significant technological advantage to carry out further preemptive strikes. The news comes just over two weeks after the U.S. Air Force used these aircraft in its own strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities located in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. These bombers were deployed from Whiteman Air Force Base and were refueled mid-air to reach their targets without major complications.
The proposal was introduced by a bipartisan pair of U.S. congressmen: Josh Gottheimer and Mike Lawler. They stated that the new “Bunker Buster Act” would give President Donald Trump the tools to ensure that “Israel is prepared for any contingency should Iran attempt to develop a nuclear weapon.” If approved, the bill would allow Israel to overcome its current limitations—not only in targeting key surface facilities and personnel, as it has done before, but also in neutralizing Iran’s underground nuclear infrastructure.
Regarding the bunker-buster bombs so highly sought after by Israel, the GBU-57A/B MOP (Massive Ordnance Penetrator) weighs 13,680 kilograms and measures 6 meters in length. These are precision-guided weapons capable of penetrating up to 60 meters underground to destroy buried targets. They are designed to penetrate reinforced concrete and steel structures, featuring programmable smart warheads and explosive power capable of causing significant structural collapses beyond the immediate blast radius. Each B-2 bomber can carry up to two of these bombs.
It is worth noting, however, that the U.S. Air Force currently operates only about 19 B-2 bombers and has never transferred custody of any, not even to its closest allies. This makes the approval of such a proposal highly unlikely at first glance. That said, as demonstrated by recent operations, the United States is clearly not disengaged from the threat Iran’s nuclear ambitions pose to Israel.
As Congressman Gottheimer put it: “Iran, the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism and one of the top enemies of the United States, must never be allowed to possess a nuclear weapon. That’s why I strongly supported our military actions earlier this month. Iran has killed dozens of Americans, including our troops, and has repeatedly attacked our key democratic ally, Israel. Israel must be able to defend itself from Iran and ensure the country cannot rebuild its nuclear capability.”
Regardless of what the U.S. ultimately decides, the IAEA—led by Argentine director Rafael Grossi—has stated that Iran suffered severe damage in the attacks, which disabled its main uranium centrifuges. However, the country has not entirely lost its ability to develop nuclear weapons should it choose to recover the buried technology. In Grossi’s own words: “The capabilities they have are still there. They could have, within months—I would say—a few cascades of centrifuges spinning and producing enriched uranium, or even less. But, as I said, frankly, one cannot say that everything is gone and that nothing remains.”
Images used for illustrative purposes only
Related topic: Facing dwindling reserves, U.S. halts shipments of air defense missiles and artillery ammunition to the Ukrainian Armed Forces
Really bizarro. Surprised he doesn’t send some to Ukraine while he’s at it.