Trump Iran Airstrikes: MOP Bomb Deployment & Constitutional Crisis | June 22, 2025 Analysis

Key Takeaways

• U.S. deployed B-2 stealth bombers and 30,000-pound “bunker buster” bombs (GBU-57 MOP) to destroy Iran’s Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear sites .

• Trump administration cited Article II constitutional powers for the strikes, bypassing Congressional approval and igniting legal debates .

• Damage assessments show “severe destruction” at Fordo, though Iran claims uranium stockpiles were moved pre-strike .

• Iran vows retaliation, while Trump hints at regime change: “Why wouldn’t there be a Regime change???” .

• Global reactions split: U.K./France urge diplomacy; Russia condemns U.S.; bipartisan U.S. lawmakers challenge strikes’ legality .

Operation Midnight Hammer: B-2 Spirits and Bunker Busters

The B-2 bombers took off from Missouri—Whiteman Air Force Base—flying 18 hours across the Pacific. Decoy jets split west. Seven Spirits slipped into Iranian airspace undetected. They carried GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators (MOPs), 30,000-pound bombs designed to crack mountains. Fourteen struck Fordo, buried under 300 feet of rock. Two dozen cruise missiles hit Isfahan from a submarine. The Pentagon called it “precision-guided.” Iran called it barbaric .

The Fordo Facility: Why It Required the MOP

Fordo wasn’t just a target. It was a fortress. Iranian engineers dug it into a mountain near Qom, shielding it with concrete and granite. Air defenses ringed the site. Only the MOP could reach it—a 20-foot steel spear tipped with 5,300 pounds of explosives. Dropped from 50,000 feet, it plunges at Mach 1, burrows 200 feet, then detonates. The Air Force built it to destroy bunkers without nukes. Before June 21, it had never been used in combat .

Constitutional Firestorm: Article II vs. War Powers Act

Trump’s lawyers leaned on Article II. The president commands the military. Senior officials claimed imminent threat justified bypassing Congress. Critics blasted the logic. Fordo stood for years—no sudden attack. The War Powers Resolution (1973) requires consultation “whenever possible.” Democrats like Sen. Schiff argued none occurred. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) fumed: “Congress was on vacation” .

Legal scholars split:

• For: John Bolton claimed Trump acted within authority, citing historical precedents like Panama (1989) or Libya (2011) .

• Against: ACLU’s Chris Anders noted Madison’s “sudden attack” exception didn’t apply. The strike was “literally” unconstitutional .

Damage Reports: Obliteration or Evacuation?

Trump declared Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan “totally obliterated.” Gen. Dan Caine cited “extremely severe damage.” Satellites showed six craters at Fordo’s entrances, debris avalanching down slopes. Yet IAEA chief Rafael Grossi admitted no one could assess underground wreckage. Iran’s state media countered: Sites were emptied weeks ago. U.S. intel spotted “unusual truck activity” pre-strike—possible uranium relocation .

Regime Change Whispers and Iranian Retaliation

Trump’s social media post post-strike veered off-script: “If the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change???” Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt walked it back: Just “raising a question.” Israel amplified the theme, bombing Evin Prison and Basij paramilitary HQ—symbols of regime oppression. Iran’s Foreign Minister flew to Moscow, seeking Putin’s support. His warning: “Everlasting consequences” .

Global Fallout: Condemnations and Cautious Backing

U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres called the strikes a “dangerous escalation.” Russia accused the U.S. of “violating international rules.” The U.K. and Germany pushed Iran toward talks. U.S. lawmakers fractured:

• Republicans: Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) applauded: “Good. This was the right call” .

• Democrats: Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) decried a “third idiotic Middle East war” .

Protesters in Tehran burning U.S. flags after the strikes (Source: CNN)

The B-2 Bomber: America’s Stealth Delivery System

Only one aircraft carries the MOP: the B-2 Spirit. Northrop Grumman built it. Stealth coatings, serpentine inlets, and composite materials let it evade radar. Each $2 billion plane holds two MOPs. For Operation Midnight Hammer, they flew from Missouri, refueled mid-air over Kansas and Hawaii, then hit Diego Garcia. From there, the final leg to Iran. Iranian air defenses never saw them .

What Comes Next: Diplomacy or Wider War?

Secretary of State Marco Rubio insisted the door stays open: “If Iran were to call right now... we’re prepared.” Iran demanded a U.N. Security Council meeting. Options for retaliation:

1. Ballistic missiles at U.S. bases (Iraq, Syria)

2. Strait of Hormuz blockade (global oil choke point)

3. Proxy attacks via Hezbollah or Houthis .

Congress now races to reassert authority. Sens. Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Todd Young (R-IN) draft a War Powers Resolution. Fate hinges on Speaker Mike Johnson—who backed the strike but faces rebellion from his right flank .

Frequently Asked Questions

Was Trump legally allowed to strike Iran without Congress?

The administration claims Article II constitutional powers permit defensive strikes. Critics argue the War Powers Resolution required Congressional consultation since no “imminent threat” existed. Legal challenges are likely .

Did radiation leak from the bombed nuclear sites?

No. The IAEA and Saudi Arabia confirmed “no increase in off-site radiation levels.” Conventional explosives in the MOP minimize radioactive dispersal .

Could Israel have destroyed Fordo alone?

No. Israel lacks aircraft capable of carrying MOPs. Its bunker busters max out at 5,000 pounds—insufficient for Fordo’s depth. The mission required U.S. B-2s .

What is Iran’s most likely retaliation?

U.S. intelligence expects missile strikes on Middle East bases (Iraq, Syria) or naval attacks in the Persian Gulf. Overnight, Iran launched missiles at Haifa and Ashdod in Israel .

Did the strikes eliminate Iran’s nuclear program?

Unclear. While above-ground facilities were demolished, IAEA chief Grossi warned underground damage is unverifiable. Iran claims uranium stockpiles were moved pre-strike .