President Donald Trump is weighing the use of America’s most powerful non-nuclear bomb against Iran in a devastating new strike, as pressure grows to bring the deeply unpopular war to an end.
The Pentagon has drawn up plans to use the 21,600-pound “mother of all bombs” against Iranian nuclear sites and energy infrastructure, a move that would mark a major escalation in the six-month conflict.
Officially designated the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, or MOAB, the enormous weapon can devastate an area roughly equivalent to nine city blocks.
Military insiders, however, have cautioned that the spectacular blast may do little to advance Trump’s broader goal of forcing Tehran to submit.
The plans were reported by CNN after discussions with multiple US officials. They could be carried out either before or after November’s midterm elections if Trump approves a return to combat operations.
Trump has publicly promised not to order new attacks before voters go to the polls, though some advisers privately doubt that commitment will stand.
At the same time, administration officials are said to be working behind the scenes to find a way for Trump to declare victory and pull US forces out without giving the impression that he has backed down.
One source told CNN that the latest proposals call for strikes against “a lot of energy infrastructure” and could include the use of the MOAB.
A Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) weapon is prepared for testing at the Eglin Air Force Armament Center in March 2003.
Trump is facing mounting pressure to bring the six-month war to an end, but reportedly fears that withdrawing American forces without a decisive victory would make him appear defeated.
US weighs major strike before withdrawing troops
The operation was reportedly discussed as taking place “prior to US retrograde in CENTCOM AOR (area of responsibility).”
The wording indicates that the White House could approve a final, overwhelming bombardment before declaring victory and quickly removing American troops from the region.
A second source said the MOAB is specifically included in plans targeting Iran’s suspected nuclear facilities, including the heavily fortified Pickaxe Mountain complex.
US and Israeli officials believe Tehran has placed elements of its nuclear program at the site, which Trump has repeatedly threatened to strike.
Despite the MOAB’s immense destructive force, military experts question whether it could break through the thick granite layers believed to shield the underground facility.
The MOAB differs from specialized bunker-busting weapons. It is designed mainly to produce a massive blast over a wide area, not to penetrate deep underground.
“The MOAB is a massive information operation type weapon that is great for huge area clearance but not much else,” a source familiar with Pentagon planning told CNN.
“It is definitely not designed as a deep penetration warhead.”
The bomb could cause catastrophic destruction on the surface while leaving deeply buried nuclear facilities largely untouched.
Its vast blast radius would also raise serious concerns over civilian casualties, particularly if energy sites close to populated areas were attacked.
MOAB could serve as a warning to Iran
Even so, some officials argue that the psychological impact of using such a fearsome weapon could signal overwhelming US military power without triggering a renewed full-scale bombing campaign.
“POTUS has unfortunately put himself in a situation where he is almost compelled to do something and, without the ammunition designed to penetrate that level … you have to look at psychological effects for which the MOAB is well-equipped,” the source said.
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The debate comes as Trump faces mounting frustration over a war that has continued for more than six months without producing a negotiated settlement.
Republicans are increasingly concerned that the conflict could hurt their prospects in the upcoming midterm elections, while Trump remains unwilling to withdraw without claiming a clear victory.
Although some administration officials have said the United States has effectively prevailed, Trump has not declared the conflict finished.
He has also reportedly rejected advice from outside allies to bring US troops home, arguing that such a move would be viewed as a defeat.
Advisers seek a path to declaring victory
Senior advisers have instead spent weeks looking for a military or diplomatic breakthrough that would enable the administration to present the conflict as a decisive success.
Some of the proposed attacks have been described by officials as a “fireworks show”—a dramatic finale that could fall short of achieving the war’s original strategic aims.
Military planners have also examined options intended to create a “symbolic” victory while keeping diplomatic channels open, including a possible deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Privately, however, officials acknowledge that more airstrikes alone may not persuade Iran’s leadership to surrender or give up its nuclear ambitions.
Some administration officials and outside analysts believe defeating Iran decisively would require a huge ground offensive, potentially at the cost of thousands of American lives.
Trump has shown little interest in sending US ground troops into Iran, leaving his administration to search for other options.
The White House has not confirmed that the latest strike plans exist.
“President Trump keeps all options on the table to ensure that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon,” an official told CNN.
The Pentagon also declined to comment on specific military operations.
“The Department of War plans for a wide range of operational scenarios to execute Presidential and Secretary-level direction and to ensure mission success in any operational environment,” a spokesperson said.
This US Department of Defense (DoD) handout photo shows technicians preparing the MOAB weapon at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida in March 2003. The 21,000 pound bomb was dropped from a C-130 Hercules aircraft at the Eglin test range.
The MOAB was developed before the 2003 invasion of Iraq, when military planners envisioned a weapon that could frighten enemy forces into surrender.
The GPS-guided bomb is built to explode above the ground, generating a powerful shockwave capable of devastating exposed troops, equipment and fortified positions on the surface.
Its fearsome reputation grew in April 2017, when Trump became the first president to authorize its use in combat.
The weapon was dropped on an ISIS tunnel network in Afghanistan, reportedly killing 36 militants and destroying three underground tunnels, as well as weapons and ammunition.
Afghan and US officials said at the time that no civilians were hurt, although the necessity of deploying such a powerful bomb was questioned.
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