OMM Newsroom
The US military has drawn up new strike plans that include the possible use of the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb, known as the “mother of all bombs”, against Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear sites if President Donald Trump orders combat operations to resume, CNN reported Wednesday, citing US officials familiar with the plans.
The proposed deployment of the largest non-nuclear bomb in the US arsenal would mark a significant escalation in the conflict with Iran. However, officials have questioned whether it could achieve Washington’s military objectives.
Trump has directed the military to prepare additional options for strikes on Iranian targets, including energy infrastructure and facilities linked to the country’s nuclear programme, according to CNN. The plans could be activated before or after the upcoming US midterm elections if the president decides to resume major combat operations.
One source familiar with the planning told CNN that strikes could occur before US forces withdraw from the US Central Command area of responsibility, potentially allowing the administration to launch further attacks before declaring victory and pulling out its forces.
A second source said plans for strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, including a suspected underground facility at Pickaxe Mountain, explicitly included the possible use of the MOAB.
Trump has repeatedly threatened to target Pickaxe Mountain, where Washington and Israel believe Iran has stored components of its nuclear programme. He has said preventing Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon remains a central objective of the US campaign.
A US official told CNN that military planners routinely prepare options ranging from lower-intensity operations to more powerful strikes against heavily fortified targets.
The bomb’s effectiveness against deeply buried nuclear facilities remains uncertain. The GPS-guided weapon can devastate a surface area roughly equivalent to nine city blocks, but it is not designed to penetrate far underground. Sources cited by CNN said it would likely struggle to destroy facilities shielded by thick granite and other fortifications.
“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 military planning discussions told CNN, describing it as unsuitable for deep penetration.
If used, the bomb could cause extensive destruction at the impact site. Its large blast radius could also raise serious concerns about civilian casualties, particularly if energy infrastructure near populated areas or other civilian facilities were targeted.
Despite those limitations, US officials have reportedly considered the weapon’s potential psychological impact as part of the administration’s broader military options. One source told CNN that Trump could face pressure to take further action against Iran, even though it is uncertain whether additional strikes would compel Tehran to accept Washington’s demands.
The source suggested the MOAB could be used to exert psychological pressure, particularly given the limitations of available munitions against deeply buried targets.
