Middle-East conflict: Chinese state media slams US strikes on Iran; says American bombs may not have been enough to destroy Iran's nukes

China’s state media has condemned the United States' airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear sites, calling them a reckless escalation that pushes the region “further toward the abyss”. The experts also said that America’s bunker-buster bombs used in the strikes may not be sufficient to destroy Iran’s deep hidden nuclear secrets.

The US military launched attacks on Iran’s Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz nuclear facilities, early Sunday morning. US President Donald Trump said the military had carried out a “very successful” attack on three nuclear sites. Media reports stated that B-2 stealth bombers were involved in the operation.

While Beijing has not officially responded to the airstrikes, a flash editorial published in the state-run China Daily described the US action as a flagrant violation of international law. It warned that such unilateralism undermines the rules-based international order and sets a dangerous ‘might-makes-right’ precedent, PTI quoted.

The editorial added that “the strikes have only served to push the situation further toward the abyss”.

Chinese experts also expressed doubts over the effectiveness of the operation, especially in fully destroying Iran’s underground facilities.

Fordo’s nuclear facility is buried nearly 100 metres underground, making it hard to destroy with just one or two strikes, even with bunker-buster bombs, said Li Zixin, assistant research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies, in an interview with the state-run Global Times.

Military affairs expert Zhang Junshe shared a similar opinion. He said the first wave of US strikes may not have been sufficient to destroy Iran’s underground nuclear facilities. For instance, the Fordo site sits 90 metres beneath solid rock, making it extremely hard to penetrate. Although Israel views it as a key target, it lacks the capability to carry out an effective strike.

Zhang explained that the US uses B-2 bombers armed with 30,000-pound GBU-57 bunker busters, which are believed to be able to penetrate only about 65 metres. He said that, in theory, two bombs used one after the other might be required—but this approach has never been publicly tested, so it’s unclear how effective the first strike would actually be.

Referring to the Iranian official’s assertion to the BBC that Iran “didn’t suffer a major blow because the materials had already been taken out,” Zhang said, “This further demonstrates the difficulty for the US military to completely destroy Iran's nuclear materials.”

“B-2 strategic bombers, armed with bunker-busting weapons, are far more powerful than the bombs and missiles carried by Israel's F-15, F-16, and F-35 fighter jets,” he added.


“Therefore, the damage inflicted by the US is undoubtedly far greater than what Israel could achieve. Against this backdrop, whether Iran’s nuclear facilities can be preserved remains uncertain.”

Li Zixin noted that this may not be the end of US action. “In the coming days, the US may further escalate its attacks on key Iranian facilities,” he said.

At the same time, he added, neither side wants the situation to spiral out of control. Therefore, US strikes are likely to remain limited in scope, focusing primarily on specific nuclear sites rather than launching large-scale attacks on Iran’s other infrastructure.