US military weighs use of ‘mother of all bombs’ in potential future strikes on Iran, CNN says
Officials say the 21,600-pound bomb is being considered for its psychological effect, though some doubt it can destroy deeply buried targets.
- On Thursday, CNN reported the U.S. military developed strike plans including the 21,600-pound GBU-43/B "Mother of All Bombs" against Iranian energy and nuclear infrastructure, including Pickaxe Mountain, if President Donald Trump orders renewed combat operations.
- Seeking a symbolic victory to end the unpopular war, administration officials reportedly discussed using the MOAB as a psychological tool to pressure Tehran into concessions, according to sources familiar with internal planning.
- Designed for massive surface-level destruction, the MOAB likely lacks the capability to penetrate the granite-fortified facilities at Pickaxe, prompting skepticism from military planners about its effectiveness against deeply buried nuclear installations.
- Potential deployment risks significant escalation, and officials expressed concerns that the weapon's wide blast radius would threaten civilians if used near populated areas, potentially complicating strategic objectives.
- Amid surging attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, the administration balances mounting pressure to finalize its strategy before upcoming U.S. troop rotations and November's midterm elections.
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U.S. President Donald Trump has stated that Washington weighs the use of the GBU-43/B bomb – colloquially known as MOAB, the ‘mother of all bombs’ – against Iran and has reiterated that the war with Iran “is going to end very soon, in one way or another,” amid the lack of progress in recent months in talks to end the conflict in the Middle East. “The ‘mother of all bombs’ is not (a nuclear bomb),” Trump said in an interview with Newsmax, after b…
US Prepares Plans to Use ‘Mother of All Bombs’ Against Iran, Reports Say
The White House and Pentagon have prepared contingency plans for using the US military’s largest non-nuclear bomb against targets in Iran if President Donald Trump orders renewed military operations, CBS News reported, citing sources familiar with the plans. The weapon, officially designated the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB), is known as the “Mother of […]
Trump Dismisses Going Nuclear on Iran, Possible Ground Invasion
Get latest articles and stories on World at LatestLY. US President Donald Trump on Thursday (local time) ruled out using nuclear weapons against Iran amid the ongoing conflict and expressed little inclination towards deploying American ground troops, even as the US military develops fresh strike options against Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear facilities, including the potential use of the “mother of all bombs”. World News | Trump Dismi…
The United States has no intention of using nuclear weapons against Iran, US President Donald Trump said in an interview with Newsmax, reports News.bg. "For us, this is not necessary," the head of state argued his position. Earlier, Trump promised not to attack Iran until the midterm elections for the US Congress, which will be held on November 3, 2026. He again stated that Iran is "in a very bad state" both militarily and economically. The pr…
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