US weighs ‘mother of all bombs’ for potential strikes on Iran, officials say
US Considers Massive Bomb Option in Possible New Iran Strikes
Bdbusinessdaily.com – Washington is weighing additional military options against Iran that could include the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, widely known as the “mother of all bombs,” if President Donald Trump authorises a return to combat operations.
US officials familiar with the planning say potential targets include Iranian energy facilities and sites connected to the country’s nuclear programme. Any use of the weapon would mark a major intensification of the conflict, which has already involved more than six months of US bombing without a clear negotiated settlement between Washington and Tehran.
The MOAB is the largest non-nuclear bomb in the US arsenal. Its possible deployment in Iran has prompted internal debate among military and administration officials, including questions over whether it would produce a meaningful strategic result or simply deepen an already unpopular war.
Pressure Builds Around the Conflict
Trump faces growing political pressure to bring the conflict to a close as Republicans prepare for possible voter anger ahead of the US midterm elections. While some officials inside the administration have portrayed the campaign as effectively successful, Trump has avoided declaring victory in recent public remarks.
Instead, he has continued to argue that US objectives in Iran remain unfinished, with preventing Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon still presented as a central goal. The president alone has the authority to decide whether further attacks will take place.
Privately, Trump has also expressed misgivings about calls from foreign partners to withdraw US forces from the region. He has suggested that leaving without what he regards as a decisive outcome could be viewed as a defeat.
“Prior to US retrograde in CENTCOM AOR (area of responsibility)”
That language appeared in a description of a possible timeline for new strike packages. It suggests an approach in which the United States could launch further attacks, announce that its aims had been met, and then pull forces back from the Central Command region.
Energy and Nuclear Sites Under Review
Military planners have continued presenting Trump with possible targets, including extensive energy infrastructure. A MOAB has been considered as part of those plans, though officials have not indicated that a final decision has been made.
Separate planning for strikes on Iranian nuclear-related locations also includes the possible use of the weapon. One site under discussion is Pickaxe Mountain, where the United States and Israel believe Iran has kept components connected to its nuclear programme.
Trump has repeatedly threatened action against Pickaxe Mountain in recent months, even after pausing full-scale combat operations earlier this year. The continuing focus on the location reflects the administration’s concern that Iran could move closer to obtaining a nuclear weapon.
The bomb’s immense destructive capacity makes it a highly visible option, but it is not automatically a solution to difficult or deeply protected targets. Officials involved in military discussions have raised doubts about whether deploying it would alter the broader direction of the war or help create conditions for a lasting end to the conflict.
Uncertainty Before the Midterms
White House advisers have met in recent weeks to examine several approaches toward Iran. Trump has publicly stated that he would not begin fresh operations before the midterm elections. Yet some advisers remain unsure whether that stance is fixed or could shift before voters go to the polls.
The uncertainty highlights the administration’s wider challenge: military action may offer an immediate demonstration of force, but it does not by itself answer how the war would be concluded. The absence of a visible path toward a settlement has fuelled concern inside the government and among Americans opposed to continued fighting.
For now, the Pentagon’s options remain available for presidential review. Whether Trump chooses to use them—and whether the MOAB becomes part of a new phase of the conflict—will depend on his assessment of military objectives, political costs and the prospect of ending the war on terms the administration can defend.
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