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The White House and Pentagon have prepared plans for a potential strike on Iran using the Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, known as the “mother of all bombs,” if President Donald Trump orders renewed military action, according to officials cited by CBS News.
The plans include options to target Iranian military sites, while CNN reported that the military has also considered using the weapon against energy infrastructure and nuclear-related facilities. The reporting does not indicate that Trump has authorized a strike.
A Pentagon official said the department prepares for a range of possible operations to carry out presidential and defense secretary directives.
“We do not comment on sensitive military plans that may or may not exist,” a White House spokesperson said, adding that Trump was keeping his options open to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
The reported preparations come as the administration weighs military action against continued negotiations with Tehran. Trump said last week that the United States would not attack Iran before the November midterm elections and described conversations with Iran as “productive,” without providing details.
What the MOAB could mean for Iran
The GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb is the largest non-nuclear weapon in the U.S. arsenal. Weighing more than 30,000 pounds, it is designed to produce a powerful blast over a broad area rather than penetrate deeply buried targets.
Trump authorized the weapon’s first combat use in 2017, when U.S. forces dropped it on an Islamic State cave complex in Afghanistan.
Its potential use in Iran would represent a significant escalation in the conflict. However, CNN reported that officials familiar with military planning have questioned whether the bomb would be effective against some of the targets under consideration, particularly deeply buried nuclear facilities.
One site discussed by Trump is Pickaxe Mountain, a heavily fortified location that analysts believe may be associated with Iran’s nuclear program. The MOAB is not designed to penetrate deeply buried facilities of that kind, raising questions about how much damage it could inflict on such a target.
Trump weighs military action and diplomacy
The administration’s reported planning comes after months of intermittent U.S. strikes on Iranian targets. In recent weeks, the two countries have largely refrained from directly attacking each other, though tensions remain high.
Trump has warned that military action could resume if Iran does not reach an agreement acceptable to Washington. In a speech to the United Nations General Assembly last month, he said he faced a “big decision” between pursuing a deal and “annihilat[ing] the Islamic Republic.”
The United States is also enforcing a blockade on Iranian ports and seeking to keep commercial shipping moving through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global energy supplies. Iran has continued threatening and attacking vessels in the waterway, contributing to uncertainty in oil markets.
During the summer, U.S. strikes focused largely on Iran’s conventional military capabilities near the strait, including air defense systems and missile and drone storage facilities, according to U.S. Central Command.
The newly reported plans suggest the military is preparing additional options should Trump decide to resume combat operations. They do not establish that a decision to launch another attack has been made.
Midterm elections add political pressure
The timing also places the potential escalation against the backdrop of the November midterm elections. Trump has publicly said he does not intend to launch additional strikes before the vote, though the reported planning leaves open the possibility of military action afterward.
CNN reported that military planners have been considering different options as the administration looks for a way to resolve the conflict and achieve its stated objectives.
The effectiveness of any renewed campaign remains uncertain. While the administration has emphasized preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, questions remain about whether additional strikes would achieve that goal or lead to a broader escalation.
For now, the MOAB remains one option in the military’s planning rather than a confirmed attack. Any use of the weapon would depend on a decision by Trump and could have significant consequences for Iran, regional security and global energy markets.
