The United States is reportedly considering deploying its largest non-nuclear bomb against Iran if President Donald Trump decides to resume military operations amid a deadlock in efforts to end the conflict.
CNN reported on Thursday, citing officials familiar with the discussions, that the US military is planning for the possible use of the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB), popularly known as the “Mother of All Bombs.”
According to the report, potential targets include Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear facilities, although the effectiveness of the weapon against heavily fortified underground sites remains uncertain.
The reported planning comes as diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, which began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran in February, have stalled.
Trump is also facing pressure ahead of the November midterm elections, with opinion polls indicating that the unpopular war and rising fuel and other prices could hurt the Republican Party’s electoral prospects.
However, officials have reportedly questioned whether the MOAB would be effective against Iran’s suspected underground nuclear facilities, particularly because the weapon was not designed for deep penetration.
“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 plans told CNN.
“It is definitely not designed as a deep penetration warhead.”
The United States and Israel have maintained that their military campaign was necessary to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Tehran has repeatedly denied seeking to acquire such weapons.
The potential deployment of the massive bomb has also raised concerns about civilian casualties because of its destructive capacity, particularly if used near populated areas or critical infrastructure.
Washington has reportedly reduced military operations in recent weeks, placing greater emphasis on economic pressure as efforts to resolve the conflict continue.
The Pentagon had not publicly commented on the reported plans at the time of the report.
The MOAB gained international attention in April 2017 when the US military dropped the bomb on Islamic State hideouts in a network of tunnels and bunkers in Afghanistan. The strike reportedly killed more than 90 militants.
Despite its enormous destructive power, the weapon’s suitability for attacking deeply buried nuclear facilities remains a major question as Washington considers its military options against Iran.
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