President Donald Trump is weighing the use of America’s most powerful non-nuclear bomb in a fresh assault on Iran as pressure intensifies to bring the deeply unpopular war to an end.
The Pentagon has drawn up options for deploying the 21,600-pound “mother of all bombs” against Iranian nuclear sites and energy infrastructure, a move that would mark a major escalation in the six-month conflict.
The weapon, formally designated the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, or MOAB, can devastate an area roughly equivalent to nine city blocks.
Yet military insiders caution that even such a spectacular strike may do little to achieve Trump’s broader goal of compelling Tehran to surrender.
CNN reported the plans after speaking with several US officials. The options could be put into action either before or after November’s midterm elections if Trump approves a resumption of combat operations.
Trump has publicly promised not to order new attacks before Americans vote, though some of his advisers privately remain uncertain that the pledge will stand.
At the same time, administration officials are said to be working behind the scenes to find a way for Trump to claim victory and pull US forces out without giving the impression that he has retreated.
One source told CNN that the proposals under discussion include attacks on “a lot of energy infrastructure,” along with the possible use of the MOAB.
A Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) weapon is prepared for testing at the Eglin Air Force Armament Center in March 2003.
Trump is under growing pressure to end the six-month war, but reportedly fears that withdrawing US forces without a decisive victory would make him look defeated.
US considers major strike before troop withdrawal
The proposed operation was reportedly discussed as occurring “prior to US retrograde in CENTCOM AOR (area of responsibility).”
The language indicates that the White House could approve one final, overwhelming bombardment before declaring victory and quickly removing American troops from the region.
A second source said the massive weapon appears directly in plans targeting Iran’s suspected nuclear facilities, including the heavily fortified Pickaxe Mountain complex.
US and Israeli officials believe Iran has placed parts of its nuclear program at the site, which Trump has repeatedly threatened to strike.
However, military experts question whether the MOAB could break through the thick granite layers thought to shield the underground facility, despite its immense destructive force.
Unlike weapons specifically engineered to destroy bunkers, the MOAB is intended mainly to produce a huge surface blast over a wide area, not to penetrate deeply underground.
“The MOAB is a massive information operation type weapon that is great for huge area clearance but not much else,” a source familiar with Pentagon planning told CNN.
“It is definitely not designed as a deep penetration warhead.”
The bomb could cause catastrophic destruction on the surface while leaving nuclear facilities buried deep underground largely undamaged.
Its vast blast radius would also create grave concerns over civilian casualties, especially if energy sites located near populated areas were hit.
Bomb could be used to intimidate Iran
Nevertheless, some officials believe the psychological impact of dropping such a terrifying weapon could demonstrate overwhelming American military strength without restarting a full-scale bombing campaign.
‘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 added.
The dilemma comes as Trump confronts growing frustration over a war that has dragged on for more than six months without a negotiated settlement.
Republicans are increasingly anxious that the conflict could damage their electoral prospects in the approaching midterms, while the president remains reluctant to withdraw without securing a clear victory.
Although some administration officials have suggested the United States has effectively won, Trump has stopped short of declaring the conflict over.
He has also reportedly resisted suggestions from outside allies that he should simply bring American forces home, arguing that such a withdrawal would be perceived as defeat.
Advisers search for a way to claim victory
Instead, senior advisers have spent weeks searching for a military or diplomatic breakthrough that would allow the administration to claim a decisive success.
Some proposed strikes have been described by officials as a ‘fireworks show,’ intended to create a dramatic finale even if they fail to accomplish the war’s original strategic objectives.
Military planners have also considered options designed to deliver a ‘symbolic’ victory while preserving the possibility of negotiations, including an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Yet officials privately acknowledge that additional bombing alone may not force Iran’s leadership to surrender or abandon its nuclear ambitions.
Some within the administration and among outside analysts believe a decisive military defeat of Iran would require a massive ground operation, potentially costing thousands of American lives.
Trump has shown little appetite for sending American ground troops into the country, leaving the administration searching for alternatives.
The White House has not confirmed the existence of the latest strike plans.
‘President Trump keeps all options on the table to ensure that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon,’ an official told CNN.
The Pentagon similarly declined to discuss specific operations.
‘The Department of War plans for a wide range of operational scenarios to execute Presidential and Secretary-level direction and to ensure mission success in any operational environment,’ a spokesperson said.
This US Department of Defense (DoD) handout photo shows technicians preparing the MOAB weapon at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida in March 2003. The 21,000 pound bomb was dropped from a C-130 Hercules aircraft at the Eglin test range.
The MOAB was originally developed ahead of the 2003 invasion of Iraq, with military planners envisioning a weapon capable of terrifying enemy forces into surrender.
Designed to detonate above the ground, the GPS-guided bomb unleashes an enormous shockwave intended to devastate exposed troops, equipment and fortified surface positions.
Its terrifying reputation was established in April 2017, when Trump became the first president to authorize its use in combat.
The weapon was dropped on an ISIS tunnel complex in Afghanistan, reportedly killing 36 militants and destroying three underground tunnels along with weapons and ammunition.
Afghan and American officials said at the time that no civilians had been injured, although questions were raised about whether such an enormous weapon had been necessary.
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