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Arabian Post
10 hours ago
- Business
- Arabian Post
Oil Traders Brace As US Bombs Iran Nuclear Sites
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Oil markets swung sharply following the US Air Force's striking of Iran's Fordow, Natanz and Esfahan nuclear facilities on 21 June, triggering a fresh wave of geopolitical risk. Brent crude futures jumped over 11 per cent earlier this week after Israeli attacks, and traders are now preparing for further price volatility once global trading resumes. President Trump described the operation as a 'spectacular military success' and warned that more targets await if Iran does not seek peace. The US employed six B‑2 bombers laden with GBU‑57 'bunker‑buster' bombs—ordnance only capable of penetrating Fordow's deep underground vaults. Natanz and Esfahan were also hit, reportedly using Tomahawks from submarines. ADVERTISEMENT Market analysts warn that disruption to Iran's 2.5 million barrels per day export capacity, plus the threat of a shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz, would lift risk premiums sharply. Oxford Economics estimates oil could reach $130 a barrel if Iran decides to close the Strait, sending inflation soaring. Investors are preparing for turbulence in equities and a rush towards safe-haven assets like the US dollar and gold. Potomac River Capital's CIO, Mark Spindel, warned of markets being 'initially alarmed' with heightened volatility continuing until the extent of the damage is confirmed. Global markets have seen mixed signals: while crude prices surged up to 18 per cent since Israel's June 13 raids, equities such as the S&P 500 have remained relatively steady. Predicting a deeper sell-off may depend on whether Iran follows through with threats — including disrupting the Strait, leveraging regional proxies, or escalating cyber campaigns. Iran's official response has been defiant rather than conciliatory. Tehran's Atomic Energy Organisation assures no radiation has been released, and lawmakers claim the damage is superficial and repairable. Iran's foreign ministry has labelled the strikes 'outrageous' and cautioned that the consequences will be 'everlasting'. Global leaders have voiced alarm. New Zealand's foreign minister urged all parties to 'de-escalate and return to diplomacy', while Australia and Mexico emphasised restraint and dialogue. Venezuela and Cuba condemned the strikes as violations of international law, calling for immediate halt to military action. Oil market specialist Saul Kavonic warns Brent could move towards $100 a barrel 'depending on Iran's retaliation'. While Saudi output increases may buffer short-term shortages, traders recognise that any direct counterstrike on Gulf tanker routes or infrastructure would compound risk. The destruction of key nuclear enrichment sites may set back Iran's nuclear programme temporarily. Yet experts caution that the regime's scientific expertise cannot be fully neutralised and the damage might harden Tehran's resolve to pursue a bomb. This may also hinder diplomatic engagement, as Iran could withdraw from the Nuclear Non‑Proliferation Treaty and cease cooperation with the IAEA. In financial hubs and oil centres from London to Shanghai, traders are reviewing risk models, stress-testing portfolios and hedging energy exposure. Asian markets, heavily reliant on Gulf crude, could face inflationary pressure if shipping routes are disrupted. A key question now is whether the United States and its allies will pursue further strikes or shift to diplomatic pressure. Trump's administration insists that Iran now has a binary choice: embrace peace or face further 'precision' strikes. Critics warn that without congressional authorisation, deeper military involvement risks entangling the US in a long-term Middle East conflict.
News18
4 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Could The US Use GBU-57 Bunker Buster On Iran's Nuclear Facility? What Makes This Bomb Unique
The spotlight is on a US bomb never used in combat, the 30,000-pound GBU-57 bunker buster, potentially the only conventional weapon capable of reaching Iran's Fordow nuclear site As tensions rise between Israel and Iran over Tehran's suspected nuclear ambitions, attention has shifted to one of the most powerful weapons in the American arsenal — the GBU-57A/B 'bunker buster" bomb. Developed to destroy deeply buried and heavily fortified targets, this precision-guided weapon may be the only conventional option capable of neutralising Iran's Fordow nuclear facility, hidden under a mountain near Qom. Israel does not possess the GBU‑57 or the B‑2 Spirit stealth bomber required to deliver it. For this reason, some observers argue that the US could be drawn into the conflict, should a strike on a hardened site like Fordow be deemed necessary. Yet, using this weapon would represent a major shift — not just militarily, but diplomatically and regionally — signalling that the conflict has entered a far more dangerous phase. The GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator, or MOP, is the most advanced bunker buster bomb ever built. While the term 'bunker buster" broadly refers to any munition designed to penetrate hardened targets, the GBU-57 stands apart for its sheer size, power, and specificity. Weighing nearly 30,000 pounds and stretching over 20 feet in length, the bomb is engineered to breach deep earth or reinforced concrete before detonation. It carries more than 5,000 pounds of high explosives and can penetrate up to 200 feet of earth or 60 feet of concrete, a depth unmatched by any conventional bomb. Its casing, made from a specialised high-strength steel alloy, is built to survive immense pressure upon impact. Its guidance system, enabled by GPS-aided inertial navigation, ensures accuracy against fortified underground bunkers, including those surrounded by mountainous terrain. At the centre of the current speculation is Iran's Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant, located near the city of Qom. The facility is believed to be buried deep within a mountain and is reportedly engineered to withstand conventional airstrikes. While Israeli officials claim that Fordow is being used to enrich uranium to levels approaching weapons-grade, Tehran has repeatedly denied pursuing a nuclear weapons programme. Fordow's heavily fortified location makes it nearly impervious to standard munitions. Military analysts believe that only a precision-guided, deep-penetration weapon like the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator could realistically damage the site without resorting to nuclear force. In an interview with ABC News, retired US Marine Corps Colonel and defence analyst Steve Ganyard said the bomb was designed for exactly such scenarios: 'You make sure you save them for places like Iran and North Korea because you don't need something that goes that deep [in normal circumstances]," he noted. That is why it has come back into global focus amid the escalating Israel-Iran conflict. Could The US Use GBU-57 In A Strike Against Iran? Currently, only the United States possesses both the GBU-57 and the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, the only aircraft capable of carrying the bomb. While Israel has the military expertise and aerial capabilities to conduct precision strikes, it lacks both this specific munition and the required delivery platform. The B-2 stealth bomber, based at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, US, has been tested carrying two GBU-57 bombs, which together make up a 60,000-pound payload. A hypothetical mission to Iran would take around 15 hours, depending on the flight path and aerial refuelling logistics. That said, authorising a US strike on Iranian soil would represent a serious escalation, likely drawing Washington directly into a wider regional conflict. US President Donald Trump has voiced support for Israel's operations and warned Iran repeatedly, but he has not publicly committed to using the GBU-57. Has The GBU-57 Ever Been Used In Combat? Despite its development starting in 2004 and successful tests in later years, the GBU-57 has never been used in an actual combat mission. According to Steve Ganyard, the bomb is not intended for large-scale destruction. 'It wouldn't be a massive blast," he said. 'It would penetrate the ground and shoot up some debris, but it won't be a massive cloud." The weapon was built for strategic deterrence, not everyday battlefield use. That's also why its stockpile is believed to be relatively small — at least 20 were delivered by Boeing by 2015, though the current number remains classified. What Would Be The Consequences Of Striking A Nuclear Facility Like Fordow? Striking a nuclear facility, whether operational or inactive, entails significant risks, not just to military stability but to civilian safety, environmental integrity, and global non-proliferation norms. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has explicitly warned against such actions. In a statement issued on June 13, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said, 'Such attacks have serious implications for nuclear safety, security and safeguards, as well as regional and international peace and security." While Grossi did not refer to any specific site, his remarks followed reports of military activity targeting nuclear-related infrastructure. Though the current status of uranium enrichment at Iran's Fordow facility is disputed—Iran denies pursuing a nuclear weapon—analysts note that the site is designed to house advanced centrifuges and operate in highly fortified conditions. A strike using the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator could potentially disrupt sensitive systems. According to a 2021 report from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, damage to such facilities carries risks of localised radioactive contamination, particularly if enriched material is present and containment structures are compromised. Experts also warn of potential Iranian retaliation, whether against American interests in the region, Israeli territory, or commercial shipping routes such as the Strait of Hormuz. Is The GBU-57 A Tactical Weapon Or Political Signal? While the GBU-57 is a military asset, it also serves as a strategic message. It is, in essence, a demonstration of what the US can do without crossing into nuclear warfare. Its mere existence raises the bar for any adversary trying to shield sensitive infrastructure. But with that power comes consequence. The use of a MOP against a nation like Iran, particularly on a nuclear site, would mark a dangerous precedent. It could encourage other countries to build even deeper and more secure underground bunkers, triggering a new kind of arms race not in missiles, but in mountains. There's also a diplomatic cost. The Trump administration, like its predecessors, has walked a fine line — supporting Israel while calling for restraint and de-escalation. A strike using the GBU-57 would almost certainly draw condemnation from Tehran and its allies, and could derail fragile backchannel negotiations over Iran's nuclear future. What Comes Next? top videos View all As the situation unfolds, it remains unclear whether the GBU-57 could come into play, but given the nature of the target and the limits of conventional weapons, the possibility cannot be entirely ruled out. While military experts agree that it is the only conventional bomb capable of reaching Fordow, the choice to use it would hinge on more than just engineering. It would reflect a momentous policy shift and raise the stakes in an already volatile region. Until that line is crossed, the MOP remains both a powerful tool and a geopolitical wildcard, one whose presence alone has changed the contours of modern deterrence. About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk More Get Latest Updates on Movies, Breaking News On India, World, Live Cricket Scores, And Stock Market Updates. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : Iran nuclear facility Israel-Iran tensions Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: June 18, 2025, 09:49 IST News explainers Could The US Use GBU-57 Bunker Buster On Iran's Nuclear Facility? What Makes This Bomb Unique
