The massive bomb referred to as the “Bunkerbuster,” along with its deployment capabilities, lies at the center of the Republican schism regarding direct U.S. involvement in striking Iran.
Proponents of U.S. intervention point to the underground nuclear facility in Fordow, asserting that the U.S. cannot allow uranium enrichment sites to remain intact, and there is no agreement ensuring Iran will not pursue nuclear weapons.
However, Israel, which launched its military operation against Iran on Thursday, has limited capacity to target Fordow independently, whereas the U.S. possesses the unique capability to do so most effectively—a capability that Israel lacks.
The largest 30,000-pound GBU-57A/B bomb, also known as the “Bunker Buster”, is designed to penetrate deep into structures thought to be situated 80 meters underground.
While Israel has smaller bunker busters at its disposal, only American B-2 Spirit stealth bombers are configured to carry and deploy such heavy munitions.
To eliminate Iran’s nuclear capabilities once and for all, some Republicans contend that if all other options fail, the U.S. must intervene by deploying bombers and bunker busters to target the Fordow site.
“If President Trump believes negotiations are going nowhere, we need to either deploy B-2 bombers ourselves or enable the Israelis to use them for this purpose,” stated Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) during a Fox News interview Tuesday morning, showing his support for using B-2 bombers against the Fordow facility.
Initially, Trump and his administration distanced the U.S. from Israeli strikes on Iran, claiming they only provided defensive support. Yet, the discussion surrounding targeting Fordow has shifted from mere proposals to urgent considerations.
Reports from the New York Times and Axios indicate that Trump is seriously contemplating a strike on the Fordow nuclear facility.
Nevertheless, some of Trump’s most ardent supporters caution against direct involvement in the conflict. They warn that it could mirror past U.S. interventions in neighboring Iraq, where regime change raised alarms about weapons of mass destruction.
When asked about the argument for using U.S. military power to target Fordow, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) reiterated her position as one of the most vocal Republican advocates for non-involvement in Iran.
“My office has received overwhelming support from my constituents to avoid entanglement in this conflict and foreign wars,” Green stated. “Involving ourselves in another conflict will not help lower gas prices, reduce grocery costs, or make rent more affordable. President Trump and his agenda were elected in November, and foreign wars were not a part of that agenda.”
Conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, closely aligned with Trump, made his concerns clear.
“Bombing Iran would constitute a direct escalation. It’s different from bombings of oil fields or other limited targets. The fundamental act would be dropping a bunker buster on an underground nuclear site,” Kirk explained. “I warn you, it’s extremely difficult to halt a war once you’re in it. If we bomb Fordow, Iran may interpret that as an act of war. How would they respond? Would they target our bases or our troops?”
Several prominent Republicans have broached the topic of regime change while recalling the potential horrors of the past — suggesting a strategy that could assist Israel in striking Iran.
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) remarked, “President Trump, who supports Israeli actions to eliminate the nuclear threat, will back this fully. If we need to provide bombs to Israel or conduct joint operations, we will do so,” as he noted during a Monday appearance on Fox News. “But the pressing question remains: if we were to see Ayatollah Khamenei replaced, wouldn’t the world be a better place?”
“We need to close this chapter soon and begin a new era of tolerance, hope, and peace in the Middle East,” Graham added.
Kirk responded to Graham’s comments during his radio show on Tuesday: “That’s pathologically insane, no offense. Do you really believe things will improve instantly?”
Trump reiterated his commitment to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. While urging a negotiated settlement, his administration has not ruled out military action.
In a Truth Social post on Tuesday, Trump stated he “knows exactly where the so-called ‘Supreme Leader’ is hiding,” but added, “we’re not going to take him out (kill him), at least not at this moment.”
He continued in another post, saying, “Unconditional surrender!”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Source: thehill.com