Fact Check: "US airstrikes on Iran used most powerful non-nuclear weapons ever deployed."
What We Know
On June 22, 2025, the United States conducted airstrikes against three Iranian nuclear sites—Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan—using a variety of munitions, including the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), which is described as the most powerful non-nuclear weapon in the U.S. arsenal. The operation, codenamed "Midnight Hammer," involved over 125 aircraft and included the deployment of 14 MOPs, each weighing approximately 30,000 pounds (about 13,600 kg) (BBC, NPR). These bombs are specifically designed to penetrate deep underground targets, capable of breaching up to 61 meters (200 feet) of earth before detonating (BBC, Gulf News).
The U.S. military stated that the strikes aimed to significantly disrupt Iran's nuclear capabilities, and initial assessments indicated that all targeted sites sustained severe damage (BBC, NPR). Following the strikes, President Trump claimed that the operation was "very successful" and resulted in "monumental damage" to Iran's nuclear infrastructure (NPR).
Analysis
The claim that the U.S. airstrikes used the "most powerful non-nuclear weapons ever deployed" is grounded in the deployment of the GBU-57 MOPs, which are indeed the largest conventional bombs in the U.S. arsenal. The MOPs are specifically engineered for penetrating fortified structures, making them particularly effective against underground nuclear facilities like those in Iran (Gulf News, Hindustan Times).
However, while the MOPs are the most powerful non-nuclear weapons the U.S. has, the phrase "ever deployed" can be misleading without context. The term "most powerful" typically refers to the bomb's weight and penetrative capability, but it does not account for other factors such as the effectiveness of the strike or the overall impact on military objectives.
Additionally, some reports suggest that the Iranian sites may have been evacuated prior to the strikes, potentially mitigating the operational impact of the bombings (BBC). This raises questions about the effectiveness of using such powerful munitions in this specific context.
The sources used in this analysis are credible, including major news organizations like the BBC and NPR, which provide detailed accounts of the military operation and its implications. However, there may be some bias in the framing of the strikes as a "success," especially from sources aligned with U.S. government perspectives.
Conclusion
The claim that "US airstrikes on Iran used the most powerful non-nuclear weapons ever deployed" is Partially True. While it is accurate that the GBU-57 MOPs are the largest non-nuclear weapons in the U.S. arsenal and were used in the strikes, the broader implications of their deployment and effectiveness are more complex. The operational success and impact of the strikes are still under evaluation, and claims of "monumental damage" should be viewed with caution given the context of potential site evacuations.
Sources
- What we know about US air strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites - BBC
- 4 things to know about the U.S. airstrikes on Iran - NPR
- Inside the US strike on Iran's deep nuclear bunkers: The GBU-57 - Gulf News
- U.S. used 14 bunker-busters, 7 B-2 bombers in "Midnight Hammer" - Axios
- What are bunker buster bombs? US uses MOP, its largest non-nuclear missile to strike Iran nuclear sites - Hindustan Times
