The U.S. military is preparing options for new strikes against Iran that could include deploying the largest non-nuclear bomb in the American arsenal against the country’s energy infrastructure and nuclear facilities, according to officials familiar with the planning.
The proposals, first reported by CNN, include the possible use of the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, commonly known as the “mother of all bombs,” if President Donald Trump resumes military operations before or after November’s midterm elections. Officials have questioned whether the weapon would advance American military objectives or bring the war closer to an end.
Trump addressed the possibility during a Thursday interview with Newsmax, emphasizing that the weapon is not nuclear.
“It’s not nuclear at all, this is just an extremely large bomb. It’s like a tiny nuclear bomb. But the ‘Mother of All Bombs’ is one big bomb – but it’s not nuclear,” Trump said. “I wouldn’t use nuclear, we don’t have to.”
The planning comes as the administration searches for a way to conclude a war that has become increasingly unpopular with American voters. With the midterms approaching, Republicans face potential political fallout from a conflict that has continued for more than six months without a negotiated settlement between Washington and Tehran.
According to CNN, Trump directed military planners to develop strike options targeting “a lot of energy infrastructure,” including the possible deployment of the MOAB. Another source said plans also contemplate using the weapon against Pickaxe Mountain, a heavily fortified Iranian nuclear site believed to contain components of Tehran’s nuclear program.
The bomb, however, may be poorly suited for destroying underground facilities. Although its blast can devastate an area roughly the size of nine city blocks, the GPS-guided weapon was designed primarily for surface targets rather than penetrating the layers of granite believed to protect Pickaxe Mountain.
“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 discussions told CNN. “It is definitely not designed as a deep penetration warhead.”
Officials suggested the weapon’s value could be psychological rather than tactical, allowing Trump to demonstrate American military power without launching a broader ground operation. Its enormous blast radius, however, could also threaten civilians if deployed near populated areas.
“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.
Trump has resisted calls to withdraw American forces, arguing that doing so could be interpreted as defeat. Although he has publicly ruled out additional strikes before the midterms, advisers reportedly remain uncertain whether that position will hold.
White House and Pentagon officials have explored limited military operations that could provide a “symbolic” victory while leaving open the possibility of a diplomatic agreement, potentially beginning with reopening the Strait of Hormuz. One source described some of the proposed operations as a “fireworks show” intended to provide a politically acceptable conclusion to the fighting.
The White House declined to discuss the reported plans, with an official saying, “President Trump keeps all options on the table to ensure that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon.”
The MOAB was developed during the Iraq War as a massive air-blast weapon designed to destroy surface targets and fortified positions. Trump first authorized its use in combat against ISIS tunnels in Afghanistan in 2017, killing 36 fighters, according to Afghan officials, with no reported civilian casualties.
Weighing 21,600 pounds, the MOAB remains the largest conventional bomb by weight in the American arsenal.
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