Potential U.S. Plan in Case of Negotiation Failure: Use of the Most Destructive Non-Nuclear Bomb

Politico reports that if nuclear talks fail, the United States may resort to another plan: the use of the most effective and destructive non-nuclear bomb in the world. On Wednesday, July 3, Politico expressed the opinion that the diplomatic efforts of the U.S. President could still end in failure. Politico states that on Tuesday, just one week before the deadline for nuclear talks on June 30 - July 10 - the Supreme Leader of Iran delivered the latest statement from a series of hardline speeches, introducing new conditions that the lifting of sanctions must occur all at once and immediately. [Mr. Khamenei, on Tuesday, July 2, told senior officials of the Islamic Republic that the lifting of sanctions should not be contingent upon Iran fulfilling its commitments, saying they should not require that Iran fulfill its commitments before the agency certifies the lifting of sanctions. We absolutely do not accept this]. Conditions that, according to Politico, Obama will never accept. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry also warned last week that the United States is prepared to withdraw from negotiations, and even if an agreement is reached, the story is not over. Politico adds that Iranian officials may violate the terms of the agreement and secretly pursue nuclear weapons production. This is why, over the past year, at least three times, a B-2 stealth bomber has flown from Missouri Air Force Base to the 'Sands' missile testing area in New Mexico. For this mission, the two billion dollar bomber was equipped with the largest and most effective non-nuclear bomb in the world, a bomb that is over 6 meters long and weighs 15 tons. When this bomb descends from an altitude of over six thousand meters, at supersonic speed and strikes the ground, it penetrates the target before exploding with devastating power. These flights have effectively been tests for a potential attack on Iran, which, if diplomacy fails to prevent the Islamic Republic's efforts to produce a nuclear bomb, Barack Obama or his successor may resort to military options and this bunker-buster bomb. Over the past year, at least three times, the B-2 stealth bomber has flown from Missouri Air Force Base to the 'Sands' missile testing area in New Mexico. For this mission, the two billion dollar bomber was equipped with the largest and most effective non-nuclear bomb in the world, a bomb that is over 6 meters long and weighs 15 tons. We ask Jalil Roshandel, a professor of political science and global security at the University of North Carolina, how likely is the failure of these diplomatic efforts and the use of military options after long and tireless attempts to diplomatically resolve the Iranian nuclear issue? Mr. Roshandel says: 'The possibility of [diplomatic] failure always exists because the responses from Tehran fluctuate to some extent; for example, the latest statements made by Mr. Khamenei. On the other hand, the issue is that the U.S. also applies its last pressure tactics alongside offering proposals to Iran, as the nature of negotiations has been such from the beginning. That is, the parties have never agreed to settle at one step, saying that we have agreed up to this point, now let’s move on to step two, step three... that is, give a concession and receive a concession.' Politico adds: think of Plan 'B' regarding Iran. The failure of diplomacy may ultimately compel the U.S. to use this weapon, which is now ready for deployment after years of testing and optimization in its design. Everything has been postponed to the last moment, and now that last moment is approaching, with only a few days left. Now, if we are optimistic and imagine that the talks continue for one or two more days, what will happen if, after that extra time, a final agreement is not reached?'. This Iranian analyst adds that: 'What Politico has raised serves as a reminder that the military option remains on the table, and with what type of bomb, non-nuclear of course. This issue can be resolved militarily; therefore, when military tools and diplomatic means are available, both sides try to reach a result through diplomacy, but if they do not reach a result, the side that has not achieved the desired outcome holds the tools, and that is bombing.' The publication Politico, after detailing the unparalleled capability of this 15-ton bomb in penetrating important targets buried deep underground, stated that at the beginning of the research for its construction, the focus was on countries like Russia, Iraq, and North Korea, but in recent years, with the help of a team of military intelligence analysts, geologists, and engineers, the main focus has shifted to Iran, specifically the Fordow enrichment facility, which is built over 75 meters underground. On Wednesday, Ed Royce, the Republican Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, reacted to reports concerning the use of the Fordow facility for isotope production within the framework of the nuclear agreement, calling it 'day-to-day concessions' from the U.S. President. In this statement, Mr. Royce said: 'At one point, we called for the dismantling of this hidden facility within the mountain, and now we are on the verge of accepting its technological activities, which can quickly turn into the production of bomb fuel [nuclear].' The Republican Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee added that: 'Repeated concessions will only make the positions of the [Supreme Leader of Iran] harder to negotiate for more concessions, just as he introduced new conditions yesterday. Therefore, given the trajectory of the talks, it seems difficult for the U.S. government to present a meaningful and sustainable agreement to Congress.' Senator Bob Corker, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, also emphasized the acceptable nature of a potential nuclear agreement with Iran in an interview with MSNBC on Wednesday. As the deadline for talks approaches on July 10, the political temperature in the most important policymaking center will rise.