The Bunker Buster Act was introduced by Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and Mike Lawler (R-NY). It would allow the president “to take actions to ensure Israel is prepared for all contingencies if Iran seeks to develop a nuclear weapon.”
Earlier this month, B-2 bomber pilots launched 14 GBU-57 bombs on Iran’s three primary nuclear sites, with President Trump saying the strikes “totally obliterated” Tehran’s nuclear capacity.
Israel also carried out its own operations, targeting Iranian leadership and strategic facilities.
The Israeli arsenal does not include the US-only GBU-57 “bunker buster” bombs, which weigh 30,000 pounds and can penetrate 200 feet underground before detonating.
Gottheimer defended the proposal, stating: “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.”
Lawler said: “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.”
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has confirmed the destruction of centrifuges at Iran’s Fordow nuclear facility, which are now “no longer operational,” according to IAEA Director Rafael Grossi.
“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… one cannot claim that everything has disappeared and there is nothing there," she warned.
Grossi continued, “It is clear that there has been severe damage, but it’s not total damage… Iran has the capacities there; industrial and technological capacities. So if they so wish, they will be able to start doing this again.”
