WorldPosted at: Oct 15 2026 9:17PM


US military weighs deployment of its 'mother of all bombs' against Iranian energy and nuclear infrastructure

Washington, Oct 15 (UNI) The US military has drawn up new strike plans for Iran which include the potential deployment of the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB), known as the "mother of all bombs", against energy infrastructure and nuclear sites if President Donald Trump orders a resumption of combat operations, according to US officials cited by CNN.
Using the largest non-nuclear bomb in the US arsenal for the first time in the conflict would mark a significant escalation.
However, officials familiar with the planning have questioned whether the weapon could achieve Washington's strategic objectives or force Tehran to concede to US demands.
The plans come as Trump faces mounting pressure to end the increasingly unpopular war, with Republicans concerned about the political consequences ahead of the US midterm elections. More than six months of US bombing have produced little indication of an imminent diplomatic settlement.
Although Trump has publicly said he would refrain from further military action before the midterms, officials told CNN that some advisers remained uncertain whether the decision was final.
Trump has instructed the military to develop additional strike options against Iranian targets, including extensive energy infrastructure and the possible deployment of the MOAB, one source said.
The plans reportedly envisage carrying out the attacks before US forces withdraw from the US Central Command area of responsibility, potentially allowing the administration to declare victory and pull out troops.
A second source said plans for strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities, including the suspected underground site at Pickaxe Mountain, explicitly included the bomb. Trump has repeatedly threatened to target the facility, where Washington and Israel believe Tehran has stored components of its nuclear programme. He has continued to insist that his objective is to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
A US official said military planners routinely develop a range of options for policymakers, from limited strikes to more extensive operations. Targets deep underground require specialised weapons, the official added, although the MOAB is not designed primarily for deep penetration.
The GPS-guided bomb can devastate a large surface area, but officials questioned whether it could penetrate the reinforced underground structures believed to protect Pickaxe Mountain and other Iranian nuclear facilities.
"The MOAB is a massive information operation type weapon that is great for huge area clearance but not much else," a source familiar with the planning told CNN. "It is definitely not designed as a deep penetration warhead."
If deployed, the bomb could cause extensive destruction at the surface, while its large blast radius would raise concerns about civilian casualties, particularly if infrastructure near populated areas were targeted.
Nevertheless, some officials believe the weapon could serve as a psychological tool against an Iranian leadership that has resisted Washington's demands. They cautioned that its use would be unlikely, by itself, to compel Tehran's surrender or deliver a decisive military victory.
"POTUS has unfortunately put himself in a situation where he is almost compelled to do something and, without the ammunition designed to penetrate that level … you have to look at psychological effects for which the MOAB is well-equipped," another source said.
A decisive defeat of Iran would probably require a major ground operation, according to officials and outside analysts cited by CNN. Such an operation could cost thousands of American lives, although the Pentagon routinely prepares for a range of scenarios. No one in the administration is currently advocating such an escalation, the report said.
Trump has shown little appetite for deploying US ground troops in Iran. But his desire to end the conflict quickly, coupled with the absence of a diplomatic agreement, has left his administration searching for a way to end the war while presenting the outcome as a success.
Senior officials and military planners have spent weeks exploring options for a symbolic victory that could be presented to the American public without foreclosing negotiations. Reopening the Strait of Hormuz has been among the potential starting points for a diplomatic agreement, CNN reported.
A fourth source familiar with Pentagon discussions described some of the proposed strikes as a "fireworks show", intended to give Trump a way out of the conflict even if the attacks fail to achieve his stated objectives.
Despite Trump's pledge to avoid further strikes before the midterms, the military is also preparing for possible Iranian retaliation if he authorises new operations.
The next rotation of US forces deployed to the Central Command region is expected within weeks. One US official said some personnel leaving the region might not be replaced, although the implications for any future operation remain unclear.
Asked about the plans, a White House official told CNN that the administration did not comment on sensitive military plans that may or may not exist.
"President Trump keeps all options on the table to ensure that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon," the official said.
A Pentagon spokesperson said the department planned for a wide range of operational scenarios to implement presidential and defence secretary directives and ensure mission success in any operational environment.
UNI ANV RN
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