Fri Jun 20 15:50:00 UTC 2025: **U.S. Weighs Use of ‘Bunker Buster’ to Target Iran’s Underground Nuclear Facility**
**Washington D.C.** – Amid escalating concerns over Iran’s nuclear program, the United States is reportedly considering using its Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) GBU-57 bunker buster to target Iran’s heavily fortified Fordo nuclear enrichment facility.
Located deep within a mountain near Qom, Fordo is considered a critical site in Iran’s uranium enrichment operations, raising fears that Iran could rapidly produce weapons-grade uranium. According to the Institute for Science and International Security, Iran could convert its current stock of 60 percent enriched uranium into weapons-grade uranium in three weeks at Fordo, enough to produce nine nuclear weapons.
The GBU-57, a 30,000-pound bomb, is designed to penetrate deeply into underground bunkers and destroy hardened targets. Experts believe the U.S. military is the only force with the capability to deliver the weapon effectively, requiring the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, the only aircraft capable of carrying it.
While the GBU-57 is believed to be able to penetrate 25 feet of high-strength concrete, and up to 200 feet of standard concrete, the exact composition of the shielding surrounding Fordo is unknown. Estimates place the facility between 260 and 360 feet below the surface.
Military experts say that a single strike would not be sufficient, but that multiple waves of attacks, with bombs targeting the same entry point, might be able to reach the facility. But the mission is not without considerable risk and uncertainty.
“There could be some additional tunnels or facilities that are buried even more deep into the mountain,” said Heather Williams, director of the Project on Nuclear Issues at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
While a direct strike on Fordo carries the potential risk of radiation dispersal, experts suggest the immediate impact would be limited due to the facility’s underground location.
Other options for disabling Fordo include Israeli airstrikes with smaller bunker busters, focusing on ventilation systems and access tunnels, or sabotage operations. However, analysts caution that military action alone may not be sufficient to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program entirely, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive negotiated agreement.
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