The US military has reportedly drawn up plans to potentially deploy the 'mother of all bombs' against Iran's energy infrastructure and nuclear sites if Donald Trump gives the order to resume combat. The proposed strikes would mark a major escalation in the conflict, with the US potentially using its largest non-nuclear bomb for the first time in its war against Iran.
Plans for possible MOAB deployment
The weapon in question is the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, also known as the MOAB, according to multiple US officials who told CNN. The bomb weighs nearly 1,000kg and is one of the most powerful conventional weapons in America's arsenal.
However, officials have reportedly questioned whether deploying the MOAB would change the course of the conflict. One source said the plans referred to launching attacks before a US military withdrawal from the region, potentially allowing the administration to declare victory before pulling out.
Nuclear facilities and political pressure
Another source said plans for strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities, including the underground site known as Pickaxe Mountain, also explicitly included the possible use of the MOAB. Despite months of American bombing, there is little sign of a negotiated settlement between Washington and Tehran.
The development comes as the president faces growing pressure to end the war, which has now lasted more than six months. With US midterm elections approaching, Republicans are bracing for a potential backlash from voters over the conflict.
White House strategy questioned
US officials have privately questioned whether the White House has a wider strategy linking its military plans to a clear route out of the war. Trump and his advisers have spent months discussing options that could provide what they describe as a 'definitive' end to the conflict, particularly as opposition among American voters has grown.
The president has reportedly rejected suggestions from some allies that he should simply withdraw American forces, arguing that doing so could look like a defeat. Although Trump has publicly said he would not take further military action before the midterm elections, advisers have privately questioned whether that position is final.
The White House has not publicly confirmed that the MOAB will be used, and the reported plans do not mean an attack has been ordered.
