Washington, June 17 (V7N) — As the Israel-Iran conflict intensifies, rumors are spreading of potential US involvement in the war. Amid this tension, US President Donald Trump has claimed that Iran’s airspace is now under American control and that the location of Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been identified.

The US president made these remarks on Tuesday (June 17), warning that Iran must surrender unconditionally or face increased attacks. The BBC reported that in two previous statements, Trump claimed, “Iran’s airspace is now completely under our control,” and added ominously, “We will not kill him — at least not now,” referring to Iran’s supreme leader.

Amid growing uncertainty, political analysts highlight the strategic significance of Fordow, Iran’s most secure underground nuclear facility, buried nearly 90 meters (295 feet) beneath a mountain. Destroying Fordow would require immense firepower, beyond the capability of Israel alone.

The United States possesses the GBU-57 MOP (Massive Ordnance Penetrator) — a 30,000-pound (13,600 kg) bunker-buster bomb capable of obliterating underground targets like Fordow. These bombs can be carried only by the US Air Force’s B-2 Spirit stealth bombers, believed to be stationed at Diego Garcia, a US-British military base in the Indian Ocean, well within operational range of Iran.

Meanwhile, the US aircraft carrier USS Nimitz is already moving toward the Middle East, further fueling speculation about possible American involvement.

Analysts are divided: Is this a bluff to pressure Tehran into surrender or negotiations, or is the United States preparing for direct military action despite Trump’s earlier reluctance to engage in new conflicts?

As events unfold, the international community watches closely to see whether Washington’s show of force is a strategic warning or a prelude to escalation in the volatile Middle East.

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