Trump Hesitant to Approve ‘Bunker Buster’ Bomb on Iran’s Fordow Facility

Reports indicate that Donald Trump is hesitant to approve the use of the GBU-57 bomb, also known as the ‘bunker buster,’ against Iran’s underground uranium enrichment facility at Fordow. Despite assurances from Pentagon officials that the 13.6-ton bomb could neutralize the Iranian base, Trump remains skeptical. He seems to be considering the strategic use of the threat of attack as leverage to bring Tehran back to the negotiating table. The effectiveness of the GBU-57 has been debated within the Defense Department since the start of Trump’s presidency. According to retired Deputy Director of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), General Randy Manner, the bomb might only delay Iran’s nuclear program by six months to a year. Military analysts suggest that only a tactical nuclear weapon could penetrate deep enough into Fordow, which reportedly extends up to 90 meters below ground. However, Trump is not considering the use of tactical nuclear weapons, nor has he accepted such recommendations from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth or Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Ken. Even a coordinated attack with multiple GBU-57 bombs may prove insufficient, potentially collapsing tunnels and burying parts of the installation without fully eliminating it. Pentagon experts believe that only a combination of conventional ground-penetrating bombs followed by a nuclear strike could achieve complete destruction—an option politically unfeasible. Built into a mountain, the Fordow facility requires precise air superiority, clear GPS signals, and full neutralization of Iran’s defense systems for any successful operation. Any attempt to destroy Fordow would require U.S. involvement, as Israel lacks both the necessary bombs and B2 bombers required for delivery. While Israel claims to have secured air superiority over Iran, a successful strike would first necessitate disabling GPS jammers and other defense systems, ensuring the GBU-57 penetrates deep enough to neutralize the facility. Iran constructed the Fordow facility underground to protect it from potential airstrikes. In 1981, Israel bombed a surface-level nuclear site near Baghdad to halt Iraq’s nuclear program. Recent years have seen various Israeli plans to destroy Fordow without U.S. assistance, including sending commandos via helicopters—a scenario rejected by Trump.