America is poised to arm Israel with devastating bunker-buster bombs capable of obliterating Iran’s underground nuclear facilities, following a historic bipartisan bill that would transfer B-2 stealth bombers and GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators if Iran continues its nuclear ambitions.
Key Takeaways
- The bipartisan “Bunker Buster Act” would authorize the transfer of America’s most powerful bunker-busting bombs and B-2 stealth bombers to Israel if Iran continues nuclear weapons development.
- Recent U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities used these same weapons, reportedly causing severe damage to Iran’s nuclear program.
- Israel currently lacks the capability to strike Iran’s deeply buried nuclear facilities on its own.
- Despite U.S. claims of “obliterating” Iran’s nuclear program, international monitors warn Iran could resume uranium enrichment within months.
- The legislation has been proposed twice before but failed to advance beyond the House floor.
Bipartisan Effort to Arm Israel Against Iranian Nuclear Threat
Representatives Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and Mike Lawler (R-NY) have introduced the Bunker Buster Act, aimed at providing Israel with access to America’s most powerful bunker-busting bombs and B-2 stealth bombers. The bill would authorize President Trump to transfer these advanced weapons systems to Israel if Iran continues its pursuit of nuclear weapons. This marks the third attempt to pass such legislation, following unsuccessful efforts in 2022 and 2024 that stalled in the House.
“Iran is the world’s leading state sponsor of terror and is responsible for the deaths of thousands of Americans,” said Rep. Josh Gottheimer. “As Iran rebuilds its nuclear program, we must maintain maximum deterrence.”
America’s Bunker-Busting Arsenal
The weapons in question are among America’s most advanced military assets. The GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators are 30,000-pound precision-guided bombs capable of penetrating up to 200 feet into hardened underground targets. These powerful munitions were recently deployed against Iran’s Fordo and Natanz nuclear facilities in June, when B-2 stealth bombers launched 14 bunker-busting bombs in a historic joint operation with Israel that reportedly caused severe damage to Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
The United States currently operates just 19 B-2 bombers and has never transferred them to allies. Israel lacks both these advanced stealth bombers and the GBU-57 penetrator bombs, significantly limiting its ability to independently strike Iran’s deeply buried nuclear facilities. This capability gap has made Israel dependent on American military assistance for addressing the Iranian nuclear threat, a vulnerability the new legislation aims to remedy.
“This bill gives the President the authority to equip Israel with the tools and training they need to deter Tehran and make the world a safer place,” stated Lawler.
Concerns About Iran’s Nuclear Resilience
Despite the recent American strikes that allegedly “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear program, international experts warn that the threat remains. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that Iran’s centrifuges at the Fordow site are currently non-operational following the U.S. strikes. However, there are serious concerns that Iran could quickly resume uranium enrichment activities within months, as the country retains the industrial and technological infrastructure needed to restart its program.
“The capacities they have are there. They can have, you know, in a matter of months, I would say, a few cascades of centrifuges spinning and producing enriched uranium, or less than that. But as I said, frankly speaking, one cannot claim that everything has disappeared and there is nothing there,” warned Rafael Grossi, Chair of the IAEA.
Adding to these concerns are reports suggesting Iran may have moved enriched uranium away from targeted sites before the bombing, though U.S. officials deny these claims. The possibility that Iran preserved critical nuclear materials underscores the need for continued vigilance and preparation, justifying the proposed legislation’s focus on enhancing Israel’s defensive capabilities against future nuclear threats from Tehran.
Strengthening America’s Security Through Alliance
The bill’s supporters emphasize that arming Israel with these advanced weapons systems would not only protect America’s closest Middle Eastern ally but would also strengthen U.S. national security by containing Iran’s regional ambitions. Gottheimer has explicitly framed the legislation as beneficial to American interests, stating that his “bipartisan Bunker Buster Act will give Israel the tools she needs to deter Iranian aggression and take out their underground nuclear sites — strengthening US national security.”
“Iran, the leading state sponsor of terror, and one of America’s top enemies, can never have a nuclear weapon. That’s why I strongly supported our military actions earlier this month. Iran has killed scores of Americans, including our service members, and repeatedly attacked our key democratic ally, Israel. Israel must be able to defend herself against Iran, and ensure that Iran cannot rebuild its nuclear capabilities,” said Gottheimer.
With President Trump’s strong support for Israel and firm stance against Iran, the Bunker Buster Act represents a concrete step toward ensuring that America’s most powerful military capabilities can be deployed by its allies to prevent nuclear proliferation in one of the world’s most volatile regions. The legislation underscores the bipartisan consensus that Iran’s nuclear ambitions pose an existential threat that requires the most formidable deterrence measures available.
