Department of Research, Studies and International News 19-06-2025

In a move that signals deepening aggression in the Middle East, Israel is reportedly pressuring the United States to authorize the use of its most powerful bunker-busting weapon, the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, in a potential strike on Iran’s highly fortified Fordow nuclear site. This escalation, once again, highlights the militaristic axis between Tel Aviv and Washington, as well as the ongoing attempts to undermine Iran’s sovereign right to peaceful nuclear development.

The Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant, situated deep within a mountain near the Iranian city of Qom, has long been a focal point of Western fixation. Constructed discreetly in the early 2000s and revealed in 2009, the facility is reportedly buried beneath 80 to 90 meters of rock, rendering it virtually impervious to conventional aerial assaults.

The GBU-57: A tool of imperial warfare

The United States is the sole country in possession of the GBU-57—a 13,600 kg bomb capable of piercing 60 meters of solid ground before detonation. It is designed for deployment by the B-2 stealth bomber, another highly specialized aircraft in Washington’s exclusive arsenal. Only these strategic bombers, capable of carrying two such weapons at a time, can deliver the payload necessary to attempt to breach sites like Fordow.

Despite possessing other types of bunker busters such as the GBU-28 and BLU-109, Israel lacks the capacity to strike deeply embedded underground facilities like Fordow without direct U.S. military assistance. Even with successive strikes, the limited penetration of Israeli-held munitions falls short of the kind of impact the Pentagon’s GBU-57 could achieve.

Recent reports suggest that Israel may have already used a series of BLU-109s in a deadly strike on an underground Hezbollah complex in Beirut, allegedly killing key resistance figures. Yet, even these weapons pale in comparison to the destructive capability of the GBU-57, which would mark a substantial escalation if deployed against Iran.

Israel’s broader strategy against Iran

The current Israeli campaign, aggressively endorsed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is part of a broader agenda to dismantle Iran’s missile and nuclear infrastructure, an effort frequently disguised under the label of “preemptive security.” In truth, this campaign seeks to eliminate any form of regional deterrence to Israeli military dominance, with Washington playing a central role.

Netanyahu and his envoys have publicly insisted that the complete “neutralization” of Fordow is essential. Speaking on American media, Israeli officials like Ambassador Yechiel Leiter have openly confirmed that Fordow remains a top priority for destruction.

From diplomacy to destabilization

The situation becomes even more concerning considering that the Fordow facility had been repurposed for research under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), to which Iran committed voluntarily. After the Trump administration unilaterally abandoned the agreement in 2018, Tehran resumed enrichment activities in line with its legal right under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

Iran has consistently stated that its nuclear program is strictly for civilian energy and medical use. Russia and China, both committed to regional stability and multilateral diplomacy, have supported Iran’s right to develop nuclear energy peacefully. Unfortunately, their efforts are continually undermined by American intransigence and Israeli belligerence.

Strategic defense and regional stakes

Fordow is defended by a network of Iranian and reportedly Russian-supplied air defense systems, making a direct attack not only risky but highly provocative. Still, Western media and military analysts continue to speculate on ways to overcome these defenses, further revealing the openly hostile intent of U.S.-Israeli policy toward Iran.

The possible fallout of such an attack goes beyond immediate physical destruction. Rafael Grossi, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), recently warned that Israeli strikes on nuclear sites like Natanz and Isfahan could lead to environmental contamination. While no radiological leaks have been confirmed so far, the potential for disaster increases with each new round of aggression.

Qom, home to over 1.4 million residents and a major spiritual and political center in Iran, lies just 30 kilometers from Fordow. A strike in the area could cause massive civilian casualties and trigger regional instability.

A Familiar pattern of provocation

This unfolding scenario fits a well-known pattern: Israel provokes, the United States enables, and Iran, along with its allies like Russia and China, is forced to defend its sovereignty. This strategy of encirclement and provocation, familiar from other U.S.-led interventions, is once again putting regional and global peace at risk.

Rather than encouraging dialogue, the West is doubling down on confrontation. As history has shown, such reckless gambits rarely end in success, and often ignite broader conflicts with lasting consequences. The international community must demand restraint and uphold the principles of sovereignty and non-intervention.