The United States is reportedly assessing the possible deployment of its largest non-nuclear bomb against Iran’s nuclear facilities and energy infrastructure if President Donald Trump decides to resume military operations amid stalled efforts to end the conflict.
CNN reported on Thursday, citing officials familiar with the planning, that the US military is considering the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB), popularly known as the “Mother of All Bombs,” as a potential weapon in a renewed offensive against the Islamic Republic.
The reported preparations come as Washington has increasingly relied on economic pressure in recent weeks, scaling back military operations while diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict remain deadlocked.
The war began in February following US-Israeli strikes against Iran, with negotiations subsequently struggling to produce a breakthrough.
However, the proposed use of the MOAB has raised questions within informed circles about its suitability for the targets under consideration, particularly suspected underground nuclear installations that may require specialised deep-penetration capabilities.
A source familiar with the military planning told CNN that the weapon was primarily designed for large-area destruction rather than penetrating deeply buried facilities.
“The MOAB is a massive information operation type weapon that is great for huge area clearance but not much else,” the source said, adding that it was “definitely not designed as a deep penetration warhead.”
The assessment suggests that deploying the bomb against underground nuclear infrastructure could present operational limitations, even if Washington proceeds with plans for a renewed military campaign.
Potential civilian casualties have also emerged as a concern because of the weapon’s enormous destructive capacity.
The United States and Israel have maintained that their military campaign against Iran was necessary to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons. Iran has consistently denied seeking to acquire such weapons.
The reported military planning also comes against the backdrop of domestic political pressure on Trump ahead of the November midterm elections. Polls cited in the report indicate that public opposition to the war, alongside rising fuel costs and other price increases associated with the conflict, is weighing on the Republican Party’s prospects.
The potential deployment of the MOAB would not be unprecedented. In 2017, the US military dropped the weapon in Afghanistan against Islamic State hideouts located in an extensive network of tunnels and bunkers. The strike killed more than 90 militants, according to reports.
The Pentagon had not publicly commented on the latest report at the time of publication. AFP said it had contacted the US defence department for a response.
The GBU-43/B is a conventional, non-nuclear weapon, but its possible use against Iran would represent a significant escalation if Washington moved beyond economic pressure and resumed large-scale combat operations.