US Weighs ‘Mother of All Bombs’ Against Iran, Report Says...

President Donald Trump is weighing the use of America’s most powerful non-nuclear bomb in a devastating new strike on Iran as pressure builds to end the deeply unpopular war.

The Pentagon has drawn up plans to deploy the 21,600-pound “Mother of All Bombs” against Iranian nuclear sites and energy infrastructure, a move that would mark a dramatic escalation in the six-month conflict.

Officially designated the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast, or MOAB, the weapon can devastate an area roughly equivalent to nine city blocks.

Military insiders, however, caution that even such a spectacular blast may do little to advance Trump’s broader goal of forcing Tehran to capitulate.

The plans, reported by CNN after discussions with multiple US officials, could be carried out either before or after November’s midterm elections if Trump approves a renewed military campaign.

Trump has publicly promised not to order new attacks before voters go to the polls, though some advisers privately doubt that commitment will endure.

At the same time, administration officials are said to be searching behind closed doors for a way to claim victory and bring US troops home without giving the impression that Washington has retreated.

One source told CNN that the proposals include attacks on “a lot of energy infrastructure,” as well as the possible deployment of the MOAB.

A Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) weapon is prepared for testing at the Eglin Air Force Armament Center in March 2003

A Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) bomb is launched during testing at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, in November 2003

Trump faces mounting pressure to end the six-month war, but reportedly fears that withdrawing US forces without a decisive victory would make him appear defeated

The operation was reportedly discussed as occurring “prior to US retrograde in CENTCOM AOR,” referring to the US Central Command area of responsibility.

That language points to the possibility of a final, overwhelming bombardment before the White House declares victory and begins a rapid troop withdrawal from the region.

Another source said the massive weapon is specifically included in plans targeting Iran’s suspected nuclear facilities, including the heavily fortified Pickaxe Mountain complex.

US and Israeli officials believe Iran has stored elements of its nuclear program at the site, which Trump has repeatedly threatened to strike.

Yet military experts question whether the MOAB could breach the thick granite layers believed to shield the underground facility.

Unlike purpose-built bunker busters, the MOAB is designed mainly to produce a huge surface blast across a wide area—not to burrow 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.”

Nicknamed the “Mother of All Bombs,” the 21,600-pound MOAB produces a powerful shockwave across a vast area, though experts say it is poorly suited to destroying deeply buried nuclear facilities

The bomb could cause catastrophic destruction above ground while leaving nuclear installations buried deep beneath the surface largely untouched.

Its enormous blast radius would also raise grave concerns about civilian casualties, especially if energy facilities near populated areas were attacked.

Even so, some officials argue that the psychological impact of using such a fearsome weapon could signal overwhelming US power without requiring the launch of a wider 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.

The debate comes as Trump faces growing public and political 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 approaching midterm elections, while Trump remains unwilling to withdraw without first securing an unmistakable victory.

Although some administration officials have suggested that the United States has effectively prevailed, Trump has not declared the conflict over.

He has also reportedly rejected calls from outside allies to bring US forces home, arguing that a withdrawal could be interpreted as a defeat.

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Unlike conventional bunker-busting weapons, the MOAB detonates above ground and sends a massive blast wave across a wide area, destroying structures and equipment in its path

Despite its immense destructive force, the MOAB is unlikely to penetrate the fortified underground nuclear sites believed to lie beneath Iran’s mountains, experts warn

Instead, senior advisers have spent weeks exploring military and diplomatic options that could allow the administration to present the outcome as a decisive success.

Some potential strikes have been described by officials as a “fireworks show”—a dramatic finale that could fall short of the war’s original strategic aims.

Military planners have also examined operations intended to produce a “symbolic” victory while keeping negotiations alive, including a possible agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Privately, however, officials acknowledge that more airstrikes alone may not persuade Iran’s leaders to surrender or abandon their nuclear ambitions.

Some administration officials and outside analysts believe that defeating Iran decisively would require a major ground invasion, potentially at the cost of thousands of American lives.

Trump has shown little interest in sending US ground forces into Iran, leaving his administration to consider less direct alternatives.

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 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 handout shows technicians preparing the MOAB 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 ahead of the 2003 Iraq invasion as a weapon intended to frighten enemy forces into surrender

The MOAB was developed ahead of the 2003 Iraq invasion, when military planners envisioned a weapon powerful enough to terrify enemy forces into surrender.

The GPS-guided bomb is designed to explode above ground, generating a massive shockwave capable of destroying exposed troops, equipment and surface fortifications.

Its fearsome reputation grew in April 2017, when Trump became the first president to authorize the weapon’s use in combat.

A MOAB was dropped on an ISIS tunnel complex in Afghanistan, reportedly killing 36 militants and destroying three underground tunnels along with weapons and ammunition.

Afghan and American officials said no civilians were injured, though the necessity of deploying such a powerful weapon was questioned.

What is the “Mother of All Bombs”?

The GBU-43 is a GPS-guided weapon weighing 21,600 pounds, or 10 tonnes, according to Eglin Air Force Base.

The MOAB was designed in 2002 to replace the BLU-82 Daisy Cutter. Its initial purpose was to pressure former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.

The bomb was sent to the Middle East in 2003 but was not used until April 2017, when a Lockheed Martin MC-130 Hercules dropped it on an alleged Islamic State cave complex in the Achin district of southern Nangarhar province.