The United States is reportedly considering deploying its largest non-nuclear bomb against Iran if President Donald Trump decides to resume military operations amid the ongoing stalemate in the conflict.
According to a report by CNN, US military officials are examining the possible use of the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB), popularly known as the “Mother of All Bombs,” to strike Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear facilities.
The report, published on Thursday, cited officials familiar with the discussions, although no final decision to deploy the weapon has been announced.
The development comes as Trump faces growing political pressure ahead of the November midterm elections. Opinion polls reportedly indicate that the war with Iran, alongside rising fuel costs and other price increases linked to the conflict, is weighing on the popularity of the president and his Republican Party.
Diplomatic efforts to end the war have remained stalled since the summer. The conflict began in February following US and Israeli strikes against Iran, further escalating tensions across the Middle East.
Despite the reported military planning, some officials have questioned whether the MOAB would be effective against Iran’s suspected underground nuclear facilities.
A source familiar with the discussions told CNN that the bomb was primarily designed to destroy targets across a large area rather than penetrate deeply buried or heavily fortified structures.
“The MOAB is a massive information operation type weapon that is great for huge area clearance but not much else,” the source reportedly said.
The source added that the weapon was not designed to function as a deep-penetration warhead, raising questions about its suitability for attacking nuclear facilities believed to be located underground.
The United States and Israel have maintained that their military campaign is aimed at preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons. However, Tehran has consistently denied seeking to acquire nuclear arms.
The possible use of the powerful bomb has also raised concerns about civilian casualties, particularly if it is deployed against targets located near populated areas or critical infrastructure.
In recent weeks, Washington has reportedly reduced the intensity of its military operations while placing greater emphasis on economic pressure against Iran.
The Pentagon had yet to publicly comment on the report at the time of publication, according to the news agency AFP, which said it had contacted the US Defence Department for a response.
The MOAB gained international attention in April 2017 when the US military dropped the weapon on an Islamic State tunnel and bunker complex in Afghanistan. The strike reportedly killed more than 90 militants.
The bomb is one of the largest conventional weapons in the US military’s arsenal, but its potential deployment against Iran would represent a significant escalation in the conflict.
For now, it remains unclear whether the Trump administration will approve the proposed operation or continue pursuing economic and diplomatic measures to bring the conflict to an end.
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