Iran claims mastery of US-style 14-ton bunker buster technology

Mohammad Reza Naqdi, a senior advisor to the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, has claimed that Iran possesses the technology to replicate the United States’ 14-ton GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP). This specialized bunker-buster bomb is designed to penetrate deep underground to destroy fortified command centers and military infrastructure.

Reports indicate that Iran claims to have acquired components of a GBU-57 MOP during a conflict in June 2025. Naqdi asserted that this capability places Iran on the same level as the United States regarding this specific conventional military technology.

In a separate political development, the Iranian Parliament has approved Mehrdad Akhlaghi-Ketabchi as the new Minister of Defense. This appointment follows recent cabinet changes prompted by the death of Aziz Nasirzadeh during military strikes earlier this year.