The United States is reportedly considering the use of its largest non nuclear bomb against Iran if President Donald Trump orders a return to combat, as efforts to resolve the conflict remain stalled.
The weapon under consideration is the GBU 43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, commonly known as the “Mother of All Bombs.” According to officials familiar with the planning, it could be used against Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear related sites. No decision to authorize such an attack has been reported.
The reported plans come as the administration faces pressure over the war and its effect on fuel and other prices. Those concerns have weighed on Republican prospects ahead of November’s midterm elections, while diplomatic efforts to end the conflict have made little progress.
Some officials have questioned whether the bomb would be effective against deeply buried facilities. The weapon is designed to cause extensive damage across a wide area, rather than penetrate far underground. Its potential use has also raised concerns about civilian casualties.
The United States and Israel have said their military campaign was intended to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. Tehran has repeatedly denied seeking to develop them.
Washington has recently relied more on economic pressure as military activity has eased. The MOAB was last used by the US military in Afghanistan in 2017, when it was dropped on a network of tunnels and bunkers used by Islamic State militants.
