The U.S. military is developing new strike plans that consider the GBU‑43/B, known as the MOAB or 'mother of all bombs', for potential future attacks against Iran. Citing CNN, Reuters reported on the consideration of the weapon, though Reuters could not independently verify the report. According to the plans, the options could be activated before or after the upcoming U.S. midterm elections if the president decides to resume major combat operations.
The MOAB, officially the GBU‑43/B, is the largest non‑nuclear weapon in the U.S. arsenal and ranks among its most powerful conventional munitions. Its first operational use occurred in Afghanistan in 2017, demonstrating its extensive blast capabilities. While that mission highlighted the weapon's destructive yield, military observers and analysts continue to debate its operational effectiveness.
Under the strike plans being formulated, the U.S. military is considering deploying the MOAB against Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear sites. Planners are weighing the potential impact of targeting these facilities should major combat operations resume, focusing on the bomb's substantial explosive power.
Planners are weighing the potential impact of targeting these facilities should major combat operations resume, focusing on the bomb's substantial explosive power.
The MOAB likely would be unable to penetrate deep below the ground, where Iranian nuclear facilities, such as Pickaxe Mountain, are believed to be.
Beyond physical destruction, planners and analysts are debating the potential psychological impact of deploying the MOAB. Given its status as one of the most formidable conventional weapons in the American arsenal, the strategic and psychological ramifications of its use remain a point of discussion among defense planners.
Addressing the administration's posture toward Tehran, a White House official stated, "President Trump keeps all options on the table to ensure that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon." The remark underscores that unconventional and conventional options alike remain part of the broader strategic calculus.
The plans currently represent potential military contingencies rather than finalized actions. With the effectiveness of the MOAB still being debated and Reuters unable to independently verify the initial reports, the timing of any possible activation—whether before or after the midterm elections—depends entirely on future presidential decisions regarding major combat operations.