The United States military has developed new strike options against Iran that include the possible use of the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bombs, widely known as the “Mother of All Bombs” (MOAB), according to a CNN report published on October 14.
The plans could target Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear-related sites if President Donald Trump orders a resumption of combat operations, CNN reported, citing multiple US officials familiar with military planning. No decision to use the weapon has been publicly confirmed.
The possibility comes amid a prolonged conflict and stalled diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran. Any deployment of the MOAB would mark a significant escalation, although officials have reportedly questioned whether the weapon would achieve the administration’s strategic objectives.
Iran’s energy infrastructure and nuclear sites among potential targets
According to CNN, Trump has directed the military to prepare additional strike packages that include options against Iranian energy infrastructure. Separate planning options reportedly identify nuclear-related locations, including Pickaxe Mountain, as potential targets for the MOAB.
Pickaxe Mountain has drawn attention because US and Israeli officials suspect that Iran may have located parts of its nuclear programme in heavily fortified underground facilities there. The exact nature and extent of the site’s activities have not been independently established in the reporting.
The proposed strike options are conditional. They would depend on a presidential decision to resume attacks, and the existence of military plans does not mean an operation has been approved or scheduled.
CNN reported that the options could be considered before or after the US midterm elections scheduled for November 3, 2026. Trump has publicly said he would not launch new strikes before the elections, but some of his advisers reportedly remain uncertain about whether that position will hold.
What is the ‘Mother of All Bombs’?
The GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bombs is the largest non-nuclear weapon in the US arsenal. Its nickname, MOAB, has made it one of the most recognisable conventional weapons in the American military inventory.
Unlike a conventional bunker-busting bombs designed to penetrate deep into rock or reinforced underground structures, the MOAB produces a powerful air blast intended to devastate a large area. It is GPS-guided and designed for targets such as large troop concentrations, equipment, surface installations and certain tunnel or cave networks.
The weapon was developed in the early 2000s and was used operationally for the first time in April 2017, when the Trump administration authorised its deployment against an Islamic State tunnel complex in Afghanistan.
Its enormous explosive force can cause extensive destruction around an impact area. That capability, however, does not automatically make it suitable for destroying facilities buried deep beneath layers of rock.
Questions remain over its effectiveness against underground targets
One of the central uncertainties surrounding the reported plans is whether a MOAB strike could damage Iran’s most deeply buried nuclear facilities.
CNN cited officials who questioned the weapon’s ability to penetrate sufficiently deep into the ground to destroy suspected facilities at Pickaxe Mountain and other underground sites. The bomb’s massive blast could cause serious surface-level damage, but that is different from reliably destroying installations protected by thick rock.
The distinction matters because the military objective would not simply be to produce a large explosion. It would be to neutralise specific facilities and achieve a broader strategic result.
Officials cited by CNN also questioned whether deploying the weapon would shift the course of the conflict or compel Tehran to accept Washington’s demands. Its use could have a psychological effect, but that would not guarantee a military or diplomatic breakthrough.
Civilian casualties and escalation risks
The reported targeting of energy infrastructure raises additional concerns about the consequences for civilians. Energy facilities may be located near populated areas or other infrastructure on which communities depend.
A weapon with a large blast radius could cause extensive damage beyond a narrowly defined target, depending on the location and circumstances of its use. Attacks on energy systems can also disrupt electricity supplies and other essential services.
Any renewed US strikes could prompt retaliation from Iran and increase the risk of further attacks across the region. The extent of that risk would depend on the targets selected, the scale of the operation and Tehran’s response.
The possibility of using the MOAB therefore carries implications beyond the weapon’s immediate destructive power. It could signal an expansion of the conflict while creating uncertainty over whether the additional force would produce the intended political outcome.
White House keeps military options open
Asked about the reported plans, a White House official told CNN that the administration does not comment on sensitive military plans that may or may not exist. The official added that Trump was keeping all options available to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
A Pentagon official also said the military plans for a range of operational scenarios to carry out presidential and senior-level direction.
Those statements do not confirm that the MOAB will be used. They reflect the distinction between preparing military options and making a final decision to execute them.
For now, the reported plans indicate that the US military is continuing to develop possible responses if Trump orders renewed operations against Iran. Whether the MOAB forms part of an actual attack remains uncertain, as does the question of whether its use could materially change the course of the conflict.
