Trump is considering GBU-57: Is there a military impact against Iran?

Trump is considering GBU-57: Is there a military impact against Iran?

In the current conflict between Israel and Iran, US President Donald Trump could consider the GBU-57 as a strategic option. This bunkerbreaking bomb has been specially developed to attack underground Iranian nuclear systems more effectively than would be possible with conventional weapons. The GBU-57 weighs 13 tons and has the ability to ram dozens of meters deep into the ground before it detonates. Experts emphasize that only the United States has the necessary military resources in order to hit such deep goals, which limits Israel's military answer to the Iranian nuclear program. For example, the uranium -enrichment system Fordo is located at a depth of 100 meters and was reported as undamaged by the IAEA, which makes its destruction particularly challenging.

The GBU-57 has a special construction that includes a thick shell of hardened steel and an innovative detonator that triggers the explosion inside the bunker. These developments go back to the 2000s when the US Air Force made the first orders at Boeing for 20 units. Only the B-2 US fighter aircraft are able to drop this bomb and can fly to the Middle East to be able to transport two GBU-57 at the same time. Military use would probably require several bombs to maximize the accuracy of the hit, but this would be associated with a high political price for the United States, especially with regard to international relationships and possible escalations.

tactical considerations in the conflict

Marie-Theres Sommerfeld, expert of the Gid, emphasizes the tactical brilliance of Israel in the face of Iran's threat. Even if the United States is more active in the conflict, it is reported that Iran has now almost completely parked the Internet to keep the population in a national internet blackout. This happens in view of military threats. In the meantime, Israel is forced to react to new rocket attacks from Iran. The tensions are increasing and the defense systems in Israel are constantly in operation.

The negotiations and diplomatic solutions to the Iranian nuclear program are also in the room, but Trump is adequate in his statements and demands the "unconditional surrender" of Iran. The pressure that the US government exerts on Iran could further restrict the possibility of a dialogue. The regional tensions are also characterized by military attacks, both by Israeli and Iranian side. Israel reports numerous attacks on military goals in Tehran, while Iran reacts to Israel with its own rocket attacks.

consequences for geopolitical relationships

The geopolitical landscape has changed significantly in the Middle East under Trump, with a clearer resistance to the influence of the United States. The political conditions present the previous diplomacy to new challenges. Trump's focus on the Abraham Agreement, which the normalization of relationships between Israel and several Arab countries aimed at, is complicated by the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the Iranian question. In this tense situation, the GBU-57 could not only be a military weapon, but also an element in a complex geopolitical game that links negotiations and military strategies.

Overall, the possibility of a military intervention by the United States in Iran is up for discussion, with voices like that of Federal Foreign Minister Johann WadePhul, which call for return to the negotiating table. The regional dynamics are shown in the reserved reactions of the Gulf States compared to the US interventionist tendencies and the re-evaluation of their foreign policy priorities. This could indicate that the use of the GBU-57 in conflicts could not only have military but also far-reaching diplomatic consequences.

The situation remains tense and the upcoming decisions will decide on the course of relationships in the Middle East.

vienna.at reports that the GBU-57 is a decisive military option, while n-tv addressed the current escalation of the conflicts. A comprehensive overview of the geopolitical developments gives International Politics .