Can Israel destroy Iran’s nuclear sites?

Israeli airstrikes may have caused some damage to Iran’s nuclear programme but experts say much more powerful “bunker buster” bombs are needed to destroy fortified underground sites

Isfahan: Damage to four key buildings, including uranium conversion facility and fuel plate fabrication plant

Natanz: Destruction of surface structures and electrical system – loss of power may have damaged centrifuges. No detected breaches to underground uranium enrichment plant

Fordow: Minor damage to enrichment complex, buried 500m inside mountain

Key nuclear sites
Tehran
Fordow 
Natanz
Isfahan 
Bushehr
Arak
IRAN
300km 185 miles


BUNKER BUSTER BOMBS COMPARED
B-2 Spirit
U.S. has bombs to strike deeply buried bunkers. Israel’s options are more limited – if operating by itself
BLU-109 1.8-2.4m
GBU-28 5-6m
GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator  60m

BLU-109: 900kg bomb carried by Israeli F-35 jets. Used in 2024 to kill Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in underground shelter in Beirut, but assassination reportedly required multiple passes


GBU-28: Israel has undisclosed number of 2,250kg bunker busters – carried by F-15 aircraft – but likely not enough to do the job

GBU-57: 13,600kg bomb only made by U.S. and carried by U.S. B-2 Spirit stealth bomber



Sources: BBC, Bloomberg, Financial Times

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