Israel Failed to Breach Iran’s Nuclear Defenses. Its Next Move Involves the U.S.

President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke on the phone recently. The content of their conversation remains unclear, but the call took place while the president was considering a previously unlikely option: direct U.S. intervention in Israel’s efforts to damage Iran’s nuclear capabilities. Since the beginning of the conflict, one idea has lingered in the background: the only way to reach Fordow is through Washington.

A key decision. On a day that could define the rest of his presidency, Trump faces one of the most momentous decisions of his term: whether to join Israel in the war against Iran. After returning from the G-7 summit in Canada, the president held a high-level meeting and spoke directly with the Israeli prime minister. Meanwhile, he proclaimed on social media platforms that the U.S. had “total control of Iranian airspace,” warned Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei that he was an “easy target,” and demanded “unconditional surrender” without defining the terms.

Although Trump had recently advocated for a diplomatic solution to Iran’s nuclear program, his recent military moves—such as the deployment of bombers and naval destroyers—suggest he’s considering direct intervention.

The change of stance. According to The New York Times, Trump has shifted from diplomatic restraint to growing acceptance of the military option in response to the Iranian challenge, primarily driven by constant pressure from Netanyahu. While Trump attempted to maintain open negotiations with Tehran—even sending a personal letter to Ayatollah Khamenei and presenting proposals for nuclear cooperation involving the region—U.S. intelligence began warning that Israel was planning an imminent attack on Iran’s nuclear program, with or without Washington’s support.

Israel and the pressure. According to The Times, Netanyahu, tired of years of restraint under successive U.S. presidents, seemed ready to launch a major offensive—not only against nuclear facilities but potentially against the Iranian regime itself.

This direct threat, combined with Trump’s growing skepticism about Iran’s willingness to reach a real agreement, caused a shift. Although Trump initially refused to hand over the bunker-busting bombs requested by Netanyahu, he later offered intelligence support. He’s now even considering using B-2 bombers and heavy weaponry against Fordow, the underground heart of Iran’s nuclear enrichment program.

Symbolic weight. This shift stems not only from intelligence reports and frustration with stalled negotiations but also from the symbolic and media power of Israeli attacks and the role Trump wants to project to his base: that of a strong, decisive leader who protects Israel’s interests.

At a meeting with his advisers at Camp David, the president debated various options, ranging from passivity to full involvement. He ultimately chose a middle ground that allows him to maintain some political distance while offering operational support. However, as Israel scored tactical victories—including the assassination of Iranian military leaders and the possible penetration of the Natanz facility—Trump began to shift his public stance, hinting at a more active U.S. role in the campaign.

The target: Fordow. The key lies in Fordow, Iran’s underground uranium enrichment center. This fortress could only be destroyed by one thing: the giant GBU-57 bombs that only B-2s can carry. The possibility of an attack with this arsenal, combined with the perception that Israel can’t destroy the facility without U.S. help, creates a sense of urgency.

The bomb that pierces mountains. Amid the escalating conflict, the potential role of the U.S. in an air operation against Iranian nuclear facilities brings one of the most feared and least used devices in the U.S. arsenal to the forefront: the 13.6-ton GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), designed to destroy underground fortifications—exactly as its name suggests.

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Unlike conventional cluster bombs, the MOP is a precision weapon. Its forged steel structure and GPS guidance allow it to dig up to 196 feet into solid rock—or more, after years of undisclosed improvements—before detonating at the heart of bunkers, tunnels, and underground labs designed to withstand an apocalypse.

It’s not the volume. Though it’s the heaviest non-nuclear explosive in the U.S. inventory, the MOP’s effectiveness depends not on destructive volume but on its ability to surgically eliminate targets beyond the reach of any other bomb. Despite its devastating potential, the MOP has never been used in combat. The Pentagon contemplates its use only for missions that could alter the global strategic balance.

The 19 B-2s. The MOP can’t be launched from just any aircraft. Only the B-2 Spirit, the U.S. Air Force’s stealth strategic bomber, has the structural and technological capability to carry and deliver the MOP to its target. With only 19 operational units—many stationed on the secret island of Diego Garcia—the B-2 is not just another bomber. It’s a platform designed to go far, evade radar, and attack deep.

These aircraft have flown round-trip missions lasting more than 30 hours from Missouri to Libya or Kosovo, stopping only to refuel in the air. Recent upgrades to the MOP system have improved integration between the bomb and the aircraft and refined the smart fuse’s ability to detect structural “voids”—floors, chambers, tunnels—and explode at the most vulnerable point.

A combination designed for a purpose. This technology would be crucial for repeated strikes on the same underground target. However, it remains unclear whether it’s already in use. The B-2 and the MOP are built not for conventional warfare but for eliminating heavily defended, difficult-to-rebuild strategic facilities. In that regard, Fordow is pivotal.

The armored jewel. According to U.N. observers, Fordow is carved into a mountain southwest of Tehran and protected by up to 295 feet of rock, armored doors, and reinforced tunnels. Although officially designed to enrich uranium to 20%, recent International Atomic Energy Agency inspections revealed that Iran has increased production to 60%, edging closer to the 90% required for nuclear weapons.

Israel has attempted to strike the core of this heavily fortified infrastructure with little success. Without access to weapons such as the MOP, only the U.S. has the capability to attack such facilities. This reinforces the debate about possible direct U.S. involvement in a future phase of the conflict.

The consequences would be irreversible. In short, the feasibility of a U.S. attack on Fordow appears increasingly tied to tactical moves and a politically significant decision. Striking the facility would mean more than destroying centrifuges—it would demolish the symbol of Tehran’s nuclear resistance and send a global message. But it would also cross a point of no return.

Although the U.S. has the weapons, technology, and logistics, the stakes remain high. Beyond the military aspect, Washington risks its credibility with allies and adversaries, the regional balance, and its ability to prevent escalation that could drag the world into a broader conflict. Meanwhile, the presence of B-2s in Diego Garcia and the secretive movement of tankers eastward keep the possibility alive.

The world watches, its gaze fixed on a mountain south of Tehran.

Image | Christopher Ebdon

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