What to know about Iran's missile capabilities amid rising US, Israel tensions
As war threats escalate between Iran and the United States, as well as Israel, Tehran's increasingly sophisticated missiles program takes spotlight.
In mid-March 2025, the United States deployed six B-2 stealth bombers to Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, roughly a third of its entire fleet. Displayed alongside support aircraft, including tankers and cargo planes, this signals a serious readiness to target hardened facilities inside Iran and Yemen. The move followed direct threats from US President Donald Trump, who warned that "there will be a bombing" if Iran refuses to accept a new nuclear deal.
Together with the B-52, the B-2 is one of only two types of United States Air Force bombers capable of delivering the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), which is designed to destroy fortified underground facilities. Fabian Hinz, a research fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), notes that the B-2’s deployment is not just symbolic: “The B-2 can penetrate Iranian airspace with minimal risk thanks to its stealth features and can carry massive bunker-busting and earth-penetrating munitions. That’s the kind of platform you’d want if you're considering strikes against hardened Iranian targets.”
Israeli officials have reportedly urged the Trump administration to consider long-range strategic strikes on Iran’s uranium enrichment infrastructure in Natanz and Fordow, raising once again longstanding questions about how to deal with the threat posed by Tehran’s expanding missile and nuclear programs.
Can Iran strike Diego Garcia?
