The U.S. military has developed plans for possible new strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities and energy infrastructure, including the potential use of the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, known as the “mother of all bombs,” CNN reported, citing several U.S. officials familiar with the discussions.
The plans are among military options being prepared for President Donald Trump, who has said he would not authorize additional strikes before the November 3 midterm elections.
Administration officials remain uncertain whether Trump will maintain that position, while military planners continue examining potential operations against Iranian targets.
Nuclear Facilities Among Potential Targets
The proposed operations include strikes against Iran’s underground nuclear facility at Pickaxe Mountain, where Washington and Israel believe Tehran has stored components of its nuclear program.
One source said the military had been instructed to develop additional strike packages targeting substantial portions of Iran’s energy infrastructure, potentially using the MOAB before withdrawing U.S. forces from the region.
The 21,600-pound bomb is the largest non-nuclear weapon in the American arsenal. However, officials familiar with the planning questioned whether it could penetrate the heavily fortified underground facilities at Pickaxe Mountain.
The GPS-guided weapon is designed primarily to produce a large surface-level explosion rather than penetrate deeply buried targets.
Sources said its use could cause extensive destruction but might not achieve the intended military objectives against Iran’s underground nuclear installations.
The weapon’s blast radius also raises concerns about civilian casualties if deployed near populated areas.
White House Keeps Military Options Open
The discussions come as the Trump administration considers ways to conclude the conflict with Iran after more than six months of U.S. military operations.
Some officials have discussed additional limited strikes followed by a reduction in the American military presence in the region. Military planners are also preparing for possible Iranian retaliation if Trump authorizes renewed attacks.
A White House official declined to discuss specific operational plans but said Trump “keeps all options on the table to ensure that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon.”
A Pentagon official said the military prepares for a broad range of operational scenarios to carry out presidential directives.
The mother of all bombs aka MOAB, was developed in 2003 and was first used in combat in April 2017, during Trump’s first presidency, against Islamic State positions in Afghanistan.
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