Multiple U.S. B-2 Spirit stealth bombers have been sent to Guam amid a sharp rise in hostilities between Israel and Iran, signaling Washington’s readiness to join or deter further escalation in the conflict. Two unnamed U.S. officials told Reuters that the bombers, which can carry the 30,000-pound Massive Ordnance Penetrator, arrived at Andersen Air Force Base over the weekend as Israeli leaders pressed for immediate action against Iran’s buried nuclear facilities reuters.com. Local reports from the Hindustan Times confirm that six B-2s lifted off for Guam late Saturday, supported by aerial refueling tankers hindustantimes.com.
Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a second wave of strikes on Iran’s key nuclear site in Isfahan on June 21, targeting centrifuge production buildings and uranium conversion plants. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, the attack damaged four major structures, including the Uranium Conversion Facility, disrupting critical components of Iran’s enrichment work reuters.com. Iranian state media reported no release of hazardous materials, though experts warn that repeated hits risk long-term environmental contamination reuters.com.
In response, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps fired a salvo of ballistic missiles toward central Israel late Sunday, all of which were intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome and Arrow defense systems, according to Israeli military spokespeople reuters.com. The barrage marked Iran’s strongest direct retaliation yet, reflecting Tehran’s vow to defend its facilities after senior commanders fell in previous strikes.
Beyond battlefield exchanges, Iranian officials have issued stern warnings to the United States over any involvement in the conflict. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi declared that active U.S. engagement would be “very, very dangerous for everybody,” and he reiterated that Iran “reserves all options” to defend its sovereignty reuters.com. These remarks came during a press briefing in Istanbul, following cancelled talks in Muscat on reviving nuclear diplomacy under mounting military pressure.
The Trump administration faces deep internal divisions over a potential U.S. role. While some senior aides advocate restraint to avoid a wider war, others argue that deploying the B-2s underscores America’s commitment to Israel and deters Iran from further strikes. President Trump has yet to announce whether he will authorize direct military action, though moving these stealth bombers to Guam places critical assets within range of Fordow and Natanz if needed reuters.com.
Short Analysis
This deployment marks a pivotal moment: Washington is weighing its strategic deterrent posture against the risk of being drawn deeper into a regional conflict. The B-2 move serves both as a warning shot to Tehran and as reassurance to Israel, emphasizing U.S. backing without yet crossing the threshold into open warfare. Yet, showing muscle can also ratchet up tensions, inviting miscalculations on both sides.
