Donald Trump has said the US "may" join Israel in its conflict against Iran and its Supreme Leader
Washington DC:
Hours after Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned the US and its President for interfering in the Iran-Israel conflict, saying US will "suffer irreparable harm", Donald Trump has responded, saying he might strike Iran or he might not.
- Addressing a press conference from the White House's south lawn, Trump spoke about whether the United States will join Israel in its military offensive against Iran to ensure Tehran does not develop a nuclear weapon. Keeping both options open, the US President said, "I may do it, I may not do it - nobody knows what I'm going to do." Just a few hours earlier, Iran's Supreme Leader had said that Iran "will never surrender". He was responding to Donald Trump's call for an "unconditional surrender" from Tehran's regime.
- "The US President threatens us. With his absurd rhetoric, he demands that the Iranian people surrender to him. They should make threats against those who are afraid of being threatened. The Iranian nation isn't frightened by such threats," he said.
- Meanwhile, the Israel Defence Forces or IDF has said that Iran has fired a barrage of missiles at Israeli cities, "targeting civilians for the sixth consecutive day". Sirens were heard across most of Israel on Wednesday evening alerting residents to rush into bunkers till futher notice.
- On Tuesday, Donald Trump had said, "We know where he is hiding. He (Khamenei) is an easy target, but is safe there - We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now. But we don't want missiles shot at civilians, or American soldiers." But Trump cautioned that his "patience is wearing thin".
- Israel has said that it is in constant touch with the United States over the developments in the conflict. Both allies agree, as do the G7 nations, that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon under any circumstance. While Israel has already targeted and destroyed several of Iran's nuclear facilities where Tehran was enriching uranium at an advanced stage, there are some facilities which are deep underground or deep inside caves in the mountains. For this Israel needs a special type of weapon that only the United States has.
- The weapon in question is the Massive Ordnance Penetrator or MOP, which is officially known as GBU-57A/B and sometimes even referred to as the 'Bunker Buster'. This is the US military's most powerful non-nuclear bomb. Weighing around close to 14,000 kg, it was specifically developed to destroy hardened and deeply buried targets, such as underground bunkers and nuclear facilities. Designed by Boeing, the MOP is built with a high-strength steel alloy casing that can survive deep penetration through rock and reinforced concrete. It carries a powerful explosive payload of about 2,400 kg, allowing it to destroy deeply buried targets with a delayed-action detonation system. This means it explodes only after it has tunnelled deep into a structure, maximising internal damage.
- There is only one issue which Israel and the US face in using this bomb to target Iran's nuclear facilites deep underground or inside mountains - that is, that this bomb can only be deployed or dropped from a B-2 Spirit stealth bomber. This is the only aircraft in the world that is capable of carrying this payload. Each B-2 bomber can carry two MOPs. The upcoming B-21 Raider, still under development, is expected to support the MOP in future missions.
- This means that the United States must become an active party to the conflict in order to put an end to Iran's nuclear weapons ambition, which both Tel Aviv and Washington has accused Tehran of, keeping in mind the levels of uranium enrichment that the Gulf nation has achieved.
- But moment the MOP or 'Bunker Buster' is used, it will become evident that B-2 Stealth Bombers have been used in the military operation, making it clear that the US has indeed joined Israel in the conflict. This goes against Donald Trump's aim to be seen as a "peace-maker" and a "deal-broker" - a leader who is seen to choose diplomacy and talks, instead of war to resolve issues. That said, Trump has repeatedly threatened to use force if Iran does not agree to the terms and conditions being set by Washington. Trump has even moved two aircraft carriers - the USS Carl Vinson and USS Harry S Truman - near the Arabian Sea and deployed six B-2 bombers in its Indian Ocean base at Diego Garcia.
- Steve Witkoff, United States Special Envoy to the Middle East has said that for civilian purposes, 3.67 per cent uranium enrichment is enough. Tehran has already gone far beyond that. Enrichment levels of uranium in Iran are already up to 60 per cent - a short, technical step away from reaching weapons-grade levels of 90 per cent. "This cannot be allowed," Mr Witkoff had said in April. Donald Trump had fully backed him at the time, saying, "Iran has to get rid of the concept of a nuclear weapon. These are radicalised people, and they cannot have a nuclear weapon."
