‘Mother of All Bombs’ Back on the Table: US Weighs Massive Strike Options Against Iran

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The US military has drawn up fresh strike plans against Iran that could include deploying the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb — the 21,600-pound MOAB, or “mother of all bombs” — against Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear sites, according to multiple US officials cited by CNN. The weapon has never been used in the conflict with Iran, and its possible use would mark a major escalation.

President Donald Trump has ordered additional strike packages covering “a lot of energy infrastructure” and potentially the MOAB, one source told CNN. Separate planning for strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, including the deeply buried Pickaxe Mountain site, also explicitly calls for the bomb.

The plans were described as potentially taking place “prior to US retrograde in CENTCOM AOR,” suggesting Washington could launch a final round of strikes, declare victory and rapidly withdraw forces from the region. No decision to carry out the strikes has been reported.

Despite its enormous destructive power, the MOAB is an air-blast weapon designed to devastate a wide surface area — roughly the size of nine city blocks — rather than penetrate hardened underground targets. Officials and sources familiar with the planning said it likely could not reach or destroy facilities such as Pickaxe Mountain, which is believed to be shielded by layers of granite.

One source called the MOAB “a massive information operation type weapon that is great for huge area clearance but not much else.” Officials reportedly doubt that using it would force Iran to capitulate or achieve Trump’s stated strategic goals, though it could serve as a psychological and political signal.

The report lands less than three weeks before the November 3 US midterm elections. Trump said on October 8 that the United States “will not be attacking Iran at any time prior to the Midterm Elections,” but did not rule out action afterward.

The possible deployment of the MOAB, first used in combat by Trump against Islamic State targets in Afghanistan in 2017 — would be the largest non-nuclear weapon employed in the Iran conflict. Reuters said it could not independently verify CNN’s report.