The US military has developed new strike plans that include the potential use of the “Mother of All Bombs” against Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear sites if President Donald Trump orders a resumption of combat operations, CNN reported on Wednesday, citing multiple US officials familiar with the plans.
The proposed use of the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) bomb, the largest non-nuclear bomb in the US arsenal, would mark a significant escalation in the conflict with Iran.
However, officials have questioned whether the weapon could achieve Washington’s military objectives.
According to CNN, Trump has directed the military to prepare additional strike options against Iranian targets, including energy infrastructure and facilities linked to the country’s nuclear programme.
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 take place 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 targeting Iranian nuclear sites explicitly included the possible deployment of the MOAB, including against a suspected underground facility at Pickaxe Mountain.
Trump has repeatedly threatened to target Pickaxe Mountain in the Isfahan province, where Washington and Israel believe Iran has stored components of its nuclear programme.
The president has maintained that preventing Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon remains a central objective of the US campaign.
Doubts over effectiveness
A US official told CNN that military planners routinely prepare a range of options for policymakers, from lower-intensity operations to more powerful strikes against heavily fortified targets.
However, the MOAB's effectiveness against deeply buried nuclear facilities remains uncertain.
The GPS-guided bomb can devastate a surface area equivalent to about nine city blocks, but it is not designed to penetrate deep underground.
Sources cited by CNN said it would likely struggle to destroy facilities protected by thick layers of 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 planning discussions told CNN, describing it as unsuitable for deep penetration.
If deployed, the bomb could cause extensive destruction at the point of impact. 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.
The MOAB was previously used only once in combat, in 2017, against a Daesh terror group hideout in a cave complex in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province.
Psychological pressure
Despite its 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 despite uncertainty over whether additional strikes would force 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.
