Israel Seeks US MOP Bomb to Penetrate Iran’s Fordow Nuclear Site

Israel's ongoing military campaign against Iran has successfully struck key nuclear facilities like Natanz and Isfahan but has yet to damage the heavily fortified Fordo uranium enrichment plant, which is buried deep within the Zagros Mountains. The Fordo facility's depth and protection make it impervious to conventional munitions, and only the U.S. possesses the GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), a 30,000-pound bunker-busting bomb capable of penetrating such hardened underground targets. Israel lacks both the MOP and the strategic bombers necessary to deliver it, resulting in reliance on repeated conventional bombings and other tactics to degrade Fordo. Israeli officials, including National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi, have stated that the operation will continue until Fordo is damaged, but the decision to involve the U.S. militarily remains uncertain, despite ongoing talks and increased American intelligence and operational support. President Trump has indicated a willingness to escalate U.S. involvement, calling on Tehran residents to evacuate and suggesting potential deployment of the MOP, which has never been used in combat. The use of this powerful American weapon could significantly shorten the conflict by crippling Iran’s nuclear capabilities, a goal Israel views as vital to regional security.