Donald Trump has suggested to defense officials that the US should only consider launching strikes against Iran if the so-called “bunker buster” bomb is guaranteed to destroy the critical uranium enrichment facility at Fordow. According to sources, Trump was told that dropping the GBU-57s could effectively eliminate Fordow, however, he remains unconvinced and is also considering the possibility that the threat of US involvement may prompt Iran into talks.
The effectiveness of GBU-57s has been a topic of deep contention at the Pentagon since Trump’s term, with some defense officials believing that only a tactical nuclear weapon could be capable of destroying Fordow due to its deep underground location.
Trump is not considering using a tactical nuclear weapon on Fordow, and the possibility was not brought up by defense secretary Pete Hegseth and the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff Gen Dan Caine in meetings in the White House situation room.
The assessments were made by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, which reviewed the limitations of US military ordinance against underground facilities.
Destruction of Fordow is seen as central to preventing Iran’s acquisition of nuclear weapons, following the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)’s discovery that the site had enriched uranium to 83.7% – close to the 90% needed for nuclear weapons.
Israel does not possess the ordnance or planes needed to strike a facility like Fordow, and any effort to destroy it would require US involvement.
The bomb is commonly called a “bunker buster,” because it was designed to destroy underground bunkers, but can only be carried by a B2 bomber that has air superiority and requires a solid GPS signal to target its objectives.
In recent years, Israel has devised various plans to destroy Fordow without US help. However, Trump has dismissed one option of loading helicopters with commandos who could blow up the facility.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/19/trump-caution-on-iran-strike-linked-to-doubts-over-bunker-buster-bomb-officials-say
