PAKU MEDIA, TEHERAN – Sensitive issues have emerged again amidst global tensions. A number of media reports say that Iran allegedly managed to control sophisticated ammunition belonging to the United States and Israel which failed to explode, then studied it through a reverse engineering process.
The Fars News Agency raised concerns from various Western sources who considered this scenario not impossible. This report was corroborated by a number of other media, including CNN and Al Jazeera, although the details are still claims and have not been independently verified.
According to the report, more than a dozen heavy missiles were said to have been neutralized and transferred to Iran’s military research unit. One of the highlights is the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator bunker-buster bomb, a high-destruction weapon designed to penetrate the most powerful underground facilities.
Apart from that, Tomahawk cruise missiles and combat drones are also said to be on the list being studied. If true, this has the potential to accelerate Iran’s military technological development.
Old Traces Coming Back into the Spotlight
Iran’s alleged reverse engineering capabilities are not a new story. In 2011, Iran claimed to have seized control of a US stealth drone, the RQ-170 Sentinel, which crashed on its territory. The incident attracted world attention because it opened up the possibility of developing similar technology locally.
Several years later, Iran introduced drones believed to be inspired by this technology, reinforcing the perception that the country had technical capacity in this field.
Regional Conflict Factors
Reports also link this development to conflicts in the region, including the 2024 Lebanon War. In this conflict, the Hezbollah group is said to have handed over unexploded ammunition to Iran.
Also read: Iran’s missile program is the trigger, Israel is ready to act without America’s blessing
On the other hand, the issue of arms transfers from the Russo-Ukrainian War conflict also emerged. Several reports suggest that it is possible that Western weapons that were seized by Russia were then further analyzed by Iran, although this claim is still being debated.
Old Concerns from Israel
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has previously mentioned similar risks. He believes that sending weapons to conflict zones has the potential to open up opportunities for other parties to study this technology.
This concern is now relevant again, with the emergence of recent reports indicating the possibility of indirect transfer of military technology.
Between Reality and Speculation
Although various claims continue to emerge, to date there has been no independent verification to confirm the extent of Iran’s success in reverse engineering these weapons.
In geopolitical dynamics, information like this often falls between facts, analysis and propaganda interests. However, one thing is certain, if it really happens, the control of technology such as the “bunker buster” could change the balance of power in the region.
The question now is not only whether Iran has truly mastered the technology, but also how quickly that capability can be translated into real power on the ground.***
