In a dramatic escalation of military action, the US Air Force used one of the world’s most powerful conventional bombs — the GBU-57A/B “Massive Ordnance Penetrator” (MOP) — to strike three key Iranian nuclear sites: Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.

According to CNN, the revelation came from two US sources familiar with the operation.

A fact sheet released by the US Air Force confirms that the 30,000-pound bomb, containing 6,000 pounds of explosive material, is specifically designed to penetrate deeply buried targets— such as Iran’s underground uranium enrichment facilities.

This marks the first known combat use of the MOP, highlighting the strategic importance and complexity of the mission.

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The bombs were delivered by B-2 Spirit stealth bombers — America’s most advanced strategic aircraft and the only platform capable of carrying the MOP.

Announcing the success of the strike on Saturday night, President Donald Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform: “We have completed highly successful strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. All aircraft are now safely out of Iranian airspace.”

Officials emphasized that the MOP was the only known weapon capable of reaching the fortified depths of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.

However, questions remain as to whether a single bomb could fully destroy such heavily protected installations.

The B-2 Spirit bombers, with their flying wing design, composite materials, and radar-evading coatings, are engineered for deep-penetration missions in high-risk airspaces.

They can carry up to 40,000 pounds of ordnance, including both nuclear and conventional weapons, and are capable of global reach thanks to mid-air refueling capabilities.

Originally introduced in 1989, B-2 bombers first saw combat during NATO’s 1999 Kosovo intervention and have since been used in Afghanistan and Yemen.

The US Air Force currently operates only 20 B-2 bombers, all stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri. Each aircraft carries an estimated cost of around $2 billion.

Washington’s decision to deploy such an advanced and expensive arsenal sends a clear message: the US is willing to go to extreme lengths to neutralize Iran’s nuclear programme.

Analysts warn that the operation could trigger a new, highly dangerous, and potentially widespread conflict in the Middle East.