A bipartisan duo of lawmakers in the House introduced a bill that authorizes President Donald Trump to transfer B-2 stealth bombers and “bunker-buster” bombs to Israel if Iran is found to be rebuilding its nuclear supply.
Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and Mike Lawler (R-NY) introduced the Bunker Buster Act to the House on Wednesday, about a week and a half after the United States struck Iranian nuclear sites using B-2 bombers and bunker busters. Such a transfer would be unprecedented, as the U.S. has never transferred any of its 19 B-2 bombers to allies thus far.
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“Iran has killed scores of Americans, including our service members, and repeatedly attacked our key democratic ally, Israel,” Gottheimer said in a statement. “Israel must be able to defend herself against Iran, and ensure that Iran cannot rebuild its nuclear capabilities.”
International Atomic Energy Agency Chairman Rafael Grossi told CBS over the weekend that Iran could begin enriching uranium within a matter of months, confirming suspicions that Iran moved its supply before the strikes. Meanwhile, the centrifuges at Iran’s main sites will no longer work.
CENTRIFUGES AT IRAN’S FORDOW ‘NO LONGER OPERATIONAL,’ GROSSI SAYS
“It is clear that there has been severe damage, but it’s not total damage. Iran has the capacities there — industrial and technological capacities. So if they so wish, they will be able to start doing this again,” Grossi said.
Bunker busters, also known as GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators, can travel 200 feet into the ground before exploding. This is key to tackling Iranian nuclear facilities, as many were hidden deep in the earth.