New plans for military strikes against Iran, which even include the use of the most powerful non-nuclear bomb in the U.S. arsenal, known as the “Mother of All Bombs,” have been drawn up by the Pentagon, according to CNN. The targets of the potential strikes are Tehran’s energy infrastructure and nuclear facilities, should U.S. President Donald Trump decide to resume military operations, either before or after the U.S. midterm elections.
According to the American television network, citing several U.S. officials familiar with the relevant plans, the use of the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) bomb would constitute a significant escalation of the conflict. However, even among officials participating in military discussions, serious doubts are being expressed as to whether such a weapon could help achieve Washington’s strategic objectivesor substantially alter the course of the war.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
The revelations come at a time when Trump is under pressure to end the highly unpopular war in Iran, which has lasted more than six months, while Republicans are concerned about the political fallout ahead of the midterm elections. At the same time, there are no signs that Washington and Tehran are close to reaching an agreement through negotiations. Although the U.S. military continues to present the president with options for potential strikes against Iranian targets that have not yet been destroyed, some officials privately question whether the White House has a comprehensive strategy that could lead to an end to the war, according to the U.S. news agency.
Plans for strikes on energy and nuclear facilities
According to one of CNN’s sources, Trump has ordered the armed forces to draw up additional plans for attacks against Iranian targets, which include “many energy facilities,” as well as the potential use of the MOAB.
The same source reported that the planning documents use the phrasing that the strikes will take place “before U.S. forces withdraw from the CENTCOM area of responsibility,” the U.S. Central Command. This could suggest that the U.S. government is considering launching new attacks, subsequently announce that it has achieved its objectives, and quickly proceed with the withdrawal of its forces.
US CONSIDERS “MOTHER OF ALL BOMBS” FOR IRAN
CNN: Strike plans include possible MOAB attacks on nuclear and energy sites if Trump orders renewed combat. Sources doubt it can destroy deeply buried facilities.
Follow @TheRawWire for LIVE updates pic.twitter.com/PbaxSlVwk3
Advertisement— The Raw Wire
A second source told CNN that military plans for attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities also explicitly call for the use of the MOAB. Among the potential targets is the underground facility known as Pickaxe Mountain, where the U.S. and Israel believe Tehran has stored components of its nuclear program.
In recent months, Trump has repeatedly threatened to strike that specific facility, despite his decision earlier this year to suspend broad-scale military operations. The U.S. president continues to emphasize that his primary goal is to ensure that Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon.
Why there are doubts about the bomb’s effectiveness
The GBU-43/B is the largest non-nuclear bomb in the United States’ arsenal, but its destructive power does not necessarily mean it is suitable for neutralizing facilities located deep underground.
A U.S. official explained that military planning typically includes a wide range of options, from limited strikes to large-scale operations. High-difficulty targets, such as deep underground facilities, require more powerful munitions, with the MOAB being the largest non-nuclear bomb available.
However, according to CNN sources, this particular bomb—which is GPS-guided and can cause destruction over an area equivalent to nine city blocks— most likely lacks the ability to penetrate deep enough to destroy the underground facilities at Pickaxe Mountain. These facilities are believed to be protected by layers of granite, a fact that makes attacking them significantly more difficult.
“The MOAB is essentially a massive psychological warfare weapon, excellent for leveling large areas, but not much else,” said a third source familiar with military discussions regarding Iran. As the source added, “it certainly wasn’t designed as a deep-penetration warhead.”
If used, the bomb would cause catastrophic damage in the area of the explosion, but most likely primarily at ground level. At the same time, its enormous blast radius raises serious concerns about potential civilian casualties, especially if used against energy infrastructure located near residential areas or non-military facilities.
The possibility of its use as a weapon of psychological pressure
Despite doubts about its military effectiveness, Trump could choose to use the MOAB as a means of psychological pressure against the Iranian leadership, which appears determined not to yield to Washington’s diplomatic demands.
U.S. officials warn that the deployment of this particular weapon is unlikely to lead to Iran’s capitulation or to a decisive military victory. It could, however, offer the U.S. president an additional option to shift the current balance of power without having to fully resume military operations.
“The president has, unfortunately, put himself in a position where he is almost compelled to do something, and without munitions designed to penetrate to such depths, he must consider the psychological impact, for which the MOAB is particularly well-suited,” said CNN’s third source.
The MOAB was developed during the Iraq War and designed to detonate just before it hits the ground, causing a massive shock wave that spreads in all directions. During the final stages of its testing in 2003, U.S. military officials told CNN that the bomb had been designed primarily as a tool for “psychological operations.” The expectation was that an explosion of such immense power could shatter the morale of Iraqi troops and lead them to surrender or even avoid engaging in combat.
Initially, the MOAB was intended for use against large concentrations of troops and military equipment, as well as fortified above-ground installations. Subsequently, the range of potential targets was expanded to include facilities beneath relatively soft ground, such as caves and underground tunnels.
Trump was the first U.S. president to authorize the operational use of this particular bomb. In April 2017, during his first term in office, U.S. forces used the MOAB against Islamic State positions in Afghanistan. The attack targeted a network of fortified underground tunnels used by ISIS fighters to launch attacks against government forces. According to Afghan authorities, 36 Islamic State fighters were killed, and three underground tunnels, as well as weapons and ammunition, were destroyed. Afghan and U.S. officials reported at the time that there were no civilian casualties.
The use of the bomb at that time sparked intense debate, as it marked a significant shift in Trump’s stance; during his first presidential campaign, he had advocated a more isolationist foreign policy centered on the slogan “America First.” Following the 2017 attack, U.S. military authorities faced questions about whether the use of a bomb weighing approximately 9.8 metric tons against that specific target was necessary. Similar questions are expected to arise should Washington decide to use the “Mother of All Bombs” against Iran, especially given the doubts about its ability to destroy deeply fortified nuclear facilities.
