In a major escalation of military pressure, the United States launched Operation Midnight Hammer, using its most powerful non-nuclear weapon—the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP)—to strike Iran’s most fortified underground nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.
This precision strike, carried out on Saturday, represents a significant shift in U.S. military strategy toward Iran, directly targeting deep-underground nuclear sites previously thought untouchable. The operation signals Washington’s growing impatience with stalled diplomatic efforts and underscores its readiness to deploy high-yield force when diplomacy fails.
What is the Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP)?
The GBU-57 MOP, developed by Boeing for the U.S. Air Force, is the largest non-nuclear bomb in the American arsenal. Weighing nearly 30,000 pounds, it carries over 5,300 pounds of high-explosive material and is designed specifically to penetrate over 200 feet of reinforced concrete before detonation.
The B-2 Spirit stealth bomber is the only aircraft capable of delivering this weapon, thanks to its ability to evade advanced radar and air defenses. Each B-2 can carry two MOPs, each of which can be independently guided via GPS for pinpoint precision.
Why Fordow Was a Critical Target?
The Fordow nuclear site, deeply buried beneath a mountain and shielded by layers of rock and concrete, has long been seen as the crown jewel of Iran’s underground enrichment program. While Israeli airstrikes last week avoided Fordow, the U.S. calculated that only the MOP had the capability to neutralize it.
U.S. intelligence had monitored Fordow for years, allowing precise mapping of the facility’s defenses. The Pentagon stated this strike offered the “best chance to seriously disrupt Iran’s uranium enrichment efforts” and send a strategic message to Tehran.
Also read: What Are B-2 Stealth Bombers and Why the U.S. Used Them to Target Iran’s Nuclear Sites?
Regional and Global Impact
The unprecedented use of the MOP in an active strike raises questions about what comes next. Will this force Iran back to the negotiating table—or ignite further escalation across the region?
This show of force also resonates beyond the Middle East. In Beijing, analysts are watching closely. The deployment of such a high-impact weapon may influence Chinese assessments of U.S. military resolve—especially regarding Taiwan, where tensions continue to rise.
President Trump’s decision to use the MOP reveals a willingness to cross new thresholds in military engagement—one that sends a strong geopolitical message: when diplomacy fails, the U.S. will act decisively.