The United States military is reportedly drawing up plans for fresh strikes on Iran, including the possible use of its most powerful conventional bomb, known as the “Mother of All Bombs”.
According to an exclusive CNN report citing several US officials, the plans include deploying the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) to target Iran’s energy infrastructure and nuclear facilities if President Donald Trump orders military operations to resume.
The strikes could take place before or after the US midterm elections in November, although no final decision has been made.
The MOAB is the largest non-nuclear bomb in the US arsenal, weighing approximately 9,800kg and capable of producing a massive explosion over a wide area.
Speaking to Newsmax on Thursday, Trump also commented on the weapon.
“It’s not nuclear at all. It’s just a very big bomb, like a little nuclear bomb. But the ‘Mother of All Bombs’ is not a nuclear weapon,” he said.
He also stressed that the US would not need to use nuclear weapons in the conflict.
CNN sources said one potential target under consideration is the Pickaxe Mountain nuclear facility, which is believed to house components of Iran’s nuclear programme.
However, some military officials have questioned whether the MOAB would be effective against facilities buried deep underground and protected by layers of granite.
Although the bomb can unleash a powerful surface blast, it was not specifically designed to penetrate deeply buried underground structures.
Its use could also increase the risk of civilian casualties if strikes were carried out near populated areas.
Sources familiar with the military discussions said deploying the MOAB could be intended to exert psychological pressure on Tehran as diplomatic efforts to end the conflict remain deadlocked.
The Trump administration is facing mounting domestic political pressure over the war, which has dragged on for more than six months, as voters grow increasingly concerned about rising fuel prices.
Meanwhile, White House advisers are reportedly examining several military options that would allow Washington to end its operations while maintaining pressure on Iran.
A White House official declined to comment on classified military plans that may be under consideration.
“President Trump always ensures that all options are available to guarantee that Iran will not obtain a nuclear weapon,” the official said.
The MOAB was first used in a US military operation in 2017, during Trump’s first administration, when it was deployed against a network of tunnels used by Islamic State militants in Afghanistan.
If used against Iran, the weapon would mark a significant escalation in a conflict that has yet to reach a diplomatic resolution.
