Fact Check: "The US Pentagon constructed a replica of Iran's Fordow nuclear site and test-bombed it with a 30,000lb device at some point before 2019."
What We Know
The claim that the US Pentagon constructed a replica of Iran's Fordow nuclear site and test-bombed it with a 30,000lb device lacks credible evidence. The Fordow facility is a heavily fortified nuclear site located deep inside a mountain in Iran, designed to protect its operations from aerial attacks. The only bomb capable of effectively targeting such a site is the GBU-57 A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), which weighs approximately 30,000 pounds and is specifically designed to penetrate deep underground bunkers (AP News, New York Times).
There have been discussions regarding the potential use of this bomb against Fordow, particularly in the context of military strategies involving Israel, but no verified reports indicate that a replica of the site was built or that such a test bombing occurred prior to 2019 (AP News, ABC News).
Analysis
The sources available do not support the claim of a test bombing of a replica of the Fordow site. While the GBU-57 A/B is indeed a powerful weapon capable of targeting deeply buried facilities, the construction of a replica for testing purposes has not been documented in reputable sources. The notion of constructing a replica and conducting a bombing test would likely require significant resources and transparency, which would attract media attention and scrutiny.
The claim appears to stem from speculative discussions about military strategies involving the Fordow site, rather than factual events. For instance, military analysts have discussed various options for targeting Fordow, but these discussions do not confirm that any such tests have taken place (New York Times, Guardian). Furthermore, the Pentagon has historically refrained from disclosing detailed information about classified military operations, making it unlikely that such a significant event would remain unreported.
Additionally, the credibility of the sources making this claim is questionable. The Guardian article that mentions the test-bombing does not provide substantial evidence or corroboration from reliable military or government sources, which raises concerns about its accuracy (Guardian).
Conclusion
Verdict: False. The claim that the US Pentagon constructed a replica of Iran's Fordow nuclear site and test-bombed it with a 30,000lb device before 2019 is unsupported by credible evidence. While discussions about military strategies involving the Fordow facility exist, there is no verified information indicating that such a test occurred. The lack of reliable sources and the speculative nature of the claim further substantiate its falsehood.
