WASHINGTON: The United States military did not deploy its most powerful bunker-buster bombs on Iran’s Isfahan nuclear facility last weekend due to the site’s extreme depth, which officials believe would have rendered such weapons ineffective, according to informed sources.
The decision not to use the Massive Ordnance Penetrator against Isfahan—a key site believed to house nearly 60 percent of Iran’s enriched uranium—was explained during a classified briefing to lawmakers, sources said. Instead, Tomahawk cruise missiles were launched from a U.S. submarine, while B-2 bombers targeted Iran’s Fordow and Natanz facilities with multiple bunker-busting bombs.
The classified briefing was delivered by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe. One senator present at the briefing stated that some of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure is now buried so deep underground that it may be unreachable by current U.S. conventional weaponry.
Separately, former President Donald Trump issued a strong warning to Iran on Friday, threatening further military action if Tehran resumes enriching uranium to weapons-grade levels. Speaking at a press conference at the White House, Trump confirmed he would consider future strikes: “Sure. Without question. Absolutely.”
In a striking revelation, Trump also claimed that he had once intervened to stop an attempt to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. “I knew exactly where he was sheltered, and I would not let Israel or our great U.S. Armed Forces eliminate him,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform. “I SAVED HIM FROM A VERY UGLY AND IGNOMINIOUS DEATH.”
He added that he had been working to ease sanctions on Iran, but reversed course following Khamenei’s defiant speech after the recent conflict. Trump accused the Iranian leader of showing ingratitude for having been spared.
In response, Iranian officials swiftly rejected Trump’s claims. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, speaking on state television, stated that there were no plans to resume nuclear negotiations. “I would like to make it absolutely clear: there is no agreement, arrangement, or dialogue underway to begin any new talks,” he said.
