What is the ‘Mother of All Bombs’? The massive US weapon in focus over Iran

The US military has drawn up fresh strike plans that include using its most powerful non-nuclear bomb against Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear sites, CNN reported on Thursday, citing multiple US officials familiar with military planning.The plans include the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB), widely known as the “mother of all bombs”, which could be deployed if US president Donald Trump orders a resumption of combat operations. CNN reported that potential targets include energy infrastructure and the suspected nuclear site at Pickaxe Mountain.The report comes as the Trump administration weighs its options for ending a war that has continued for more than six months, with little indication of an imminent diplomatic breakthrough.

Trump has said the US will not allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon, but has also faced pressure to bring the conflict to an end.One source familiar with the military planning told CNN that Trump had ordered additional strike packages covering “a lot of energy infrastructure”, with the possibility of using the MOAB. A second source said plans for attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities, including Pickaxe Mountain, explicitly included the bomb.

The existence of these plans does not mean a strike has been authorised. A White House official told CNN that the administration does not comment on sensitive military plans that may or may not exist, adding that Trump “keeps all options on the table to ensure that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon”.The Pentagon said it plans for a wide range of operational scenarios to carry out presidential and defence secretary directives.

What is the ‘’?

The GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, or MOAB, is the largest non-nuclear bomb in the US arsenal. It weighs 21,600 pounds, or about 9.8 tonnes, and is designed to produce an enormous blast across a wide area.Unlike a bunker-buster designed to penetrate deep underground, the MOAB detonates before hitting the ground, projecting its blast outward. According to CNN, it can destroy an area equivalent to about nine city blocks, making it suited to large-area targets rather than deeply buried facilities.The weapon was developed during the Iraq War and was conceived in part for psychological effect: its enormous explosion was intended to intimidate enemy forces and pressure them to surrender or avoid fighting. It was designed primarily for use against large concentrations of troops and equipment, as well as hardened structures above ground.Trump first authorised its use in combat during his first presidency, when the US military dropped a MOAB on an Islamic State tunnel complex in Afghanistan in 2017.

Afghan officials said the strike killed 36 Islamic State fighters and destroyed tunnels, weapons and ammunition. US and Afghan officials said no civilians were killed in that attack.

Questions over whether it could hit Iran’s underground sites

Despite its destructive power, the MOAB may be of limited use against Iran’s most heavily fortified nuclear facilities.CNN reported that sources familiar with the planning questioned whether the bomb could penetrate deeply enough to destroy the suspected facilities at Pickaxe Mountain, believed to be protected by layers of granite, or other nuclear sites located far underground.One source described the weapon as effective for clearing a large area but said it was “definitely not designed as a deep penetration warhead”.The bomb’s large blast radius could also raise concerns about civilian casualties if it were used against energy infrastructure near populated areas or other non-military sites.Military planners have nevertheless considered the MOAB as a possible means of applying psychological pressure on Tehran.

One source told CNN that the weapon could be used to alter the conflict’s current course, even if it was unlikely to force Iran to capitulate or deliver a decisive military victory.

A possible escalation

The potential use of the MOAB would mark a significant escalation in the US campaign against Iran. CNN reported that military planners have prepared a range of options as the administration searches for a way to end the conflict while securing a political outcome Trump could present as a victory.Some options have reportedly been discussed as a limited show of force before US troops withdraw from the region. But officials have questioned privately whether additional strikes, without a broader strategy, would achieve the administration’s stated goals.CNN also reported that the US military was preparing for possible Iranian retaliation if Trump authorised further attacks, despite the president’s recent pledge to hold off on new strikes before the midterm elections.There has been no reported decision to deploy the MOAB against Iran. Its inclusion in military planning signals that the option is being considered, not that it will necessarily be used.