A U.S. assault on a key Iranian nuclear facility may not be efficient, even when American navy’s large bunker-buster bombs are used, a nationwide safety skilled acquainted with Iran’s program informed ABC Information on Thursday.
Whereas the 30,000-pound bombs have been examined, they’ve by no means really been used and the precise nature of the concrete and metallic defending the positioning positioned deep inside a mountain — that the bombs would wish to penetrate — is not absolutely recognized.
Joe Cirincione, who has spent a long time researching nuclear proliferation for Congress and different world leaders, informed ABC Information that whereas attacking Iran’s nuclear enrichment program would cripple its nuclear weapons functionality, it might not get rid of it.
Airmen have a look at a GBU-57, or the Large Ordnance Penetrator bomb, at Whiteman Air Base in Missouri, Could 2, 2023.
U.S. Air Pressure by way of AP, FILE
On the heart of President Donald Trump’s determination on whether or not to assault Iran is the Fordo nuclear enrichment facility in northwest Iran. It is mentioned to be constructed 300 ft deep inside a mountain — perhaps extra — and bolstered with concrete, in keeping with consultants.
The U.S. weapon touted as in a position to strike contained in the Fordo facility the GBU-57 A/B Large Ordnance Penetrator bomb, referred to as a “bunker buster.” It is able to penetrating 200 ft deep inside an underground goal after which exploding, consultants say.
A B-2 Spirit returns to Whiteman Air Pressure Base, Missouri, from a deployment to Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory, Could 9, 2025.
Senior Airman Devan Halstead/509th Bomb Wing/US Air Pressure
Cirincione mentioned that utilizing the untested weapon wouldn’t assure success.
“Fordo shouldn’t be a straightforward goal. They made this very tough for the US to destroy,” he mentioned. “Even [the bunker buster] can’t penetrate 300 ft of mountain and bolstered concrete.
“It is advisable to drop a bomb, that can dig a crater, after which one other bomb in that crater after which one other bomb, after which one other,” he mentioned. “After which you’ll solely injury that a part of the power.”
Cirincione additionally famous that even when there’s some injury accomplished, Iran’s authorities has the information, expertise and, most vital, sufficient enriched uranium and centrifuges in different locationsto transfer ahead with relative ease.
“You’ll be able to’t bomb that,” he informed ABC Information. “You’ll be able to sluggish it down, however they’ll choose up and begin once more quick and so they realize it.”
The Worldwide Atomic Power Company this week handed a decision that said Iran had breached its non-proliferation agreements and has been illegally stockpiling enriched uranium.
“I have been there, it is half a mile underground,” Rafael Grossi, the IAEA’s director basic, mentioned concerning the Fordo plant, as reported by The New York Times.
Days after the IAEA acted, Israeli forces attacked Iranian targets after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed the Iranian authorities might create a nuclear weapon “in a really brief time.”
Iranian officers have dismissed claims by Israel that they’re constructing a nuclear weapon.
White Home spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt informed reporters Thursday that the president would decide about attacking Iran “in two weeks.”
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel, June 13, 2025, President Donald Trump in Washington, June 18, 2025 and Iran’s Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran, June 13, 2025.
AFP by way of Getty Photos/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Cirincione careworn that continued navy strikes wouldn’t be a very good possibility for Israel or the U.S. if the aim is an Iran with out nuclear weapons.
“When you acknowledge there is no such thing as a navy resolution to this drawback, the navy options can solely be threats to Iran and the one reply is to get Iran to comply with roll again and finish its capabilities,” he mentioned.
