Donald Trump has reportedly ordered the US military to draw up plans that could include using the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb (MOAB), nicknamed the "mother of all bombs", against Iran for the first time in the conflict.
New strike options drawn up
The President is said to be weighing up his options to shape the war with Iran ahead of the US midterm elections. The military has reportedly prepared several new strike option plans, with potential targets including "a lot of energy infrastructure", a source told CNN.
A second source speaking to CNN claimed some military plans on targeting Iranian nuclear sites, including Pickaxe Mountain, specifically mentioned using the MOAB.
What is the MOAB?
The bomb is the largest non-nuclear weapon in the US military arsenal. It is GPS-guided and can destroy buildings, people and systems within a 900m radius of the blast. The weapon is 9m long and weighs 9,800kg — equivalent to four small cars.
It carries around 8,500kg of explosives and is designed to detonate a few metres above the ground, sending out deadly waves of fire that can blast away buildings and cave openings. The nickname came after former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein described the Gulf War as "the mother of all battles" in January 1991.
Questions over effectiveness
Some military sources have questioned whether the MOAB would be effective in the conflict, as Iran's nuclear facilities and other military sites are often located underground. A source told CNN: "The MOAB is a massive information operation type weapon that is great for huge area clearance but not much else. It is definitely not designed as a deep penetration warhead."
Reports have also claimed Iran has threatened to launch ground invasions of neighbouring countries allied to the US if Trump continues the conflict. Iranian officials have reportedly fortified military and nuclear sites along its borders with several nations that have backed Trump since the war started in February.
Iran has reportedly rallied regime loyalists and is threatening to widen the conflict ahead of the US midterm elections. Tehran has told regional officials it would respond to any new attacks by hitting neighbouring US allies in retaliation, according to the Wall Street Journal. Iran shares borders with the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar and Turkmenistan.
