# Pentagon Mulls Using 'Mother of All Bombs' in Potential Iran Strikes

The United States military has developed strike plans targeting Iran that include potential use of the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb — colloquially known as the "Mother of All Bombs" — the largest non-nuclear weapon in America's arsenal, according to reports from multiple sources.

CNN reported Tuesday that U.S. officials confirmed the Pentagon has drawn up contingency plans that would deploy the MOAB against Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear facilities if President Donald Trump orders renewed military operations. The massive 21,600-pound bomb, which generates a blast radius of over one mile, represents the most destructive conventional weapon available to American forces.

During an interview with Newsmax, President Trump acknowledged the military option without committing to its use. "Well, we could," Trump said when asked about deploying the MOAB against Iranian targets. The president argued that while the United States has already inflicted significant damage on Iran's nuclear program, pulling back before ensuring Tehran cannot develop nuclear weapons could necessitate more extensive military action later.

Military planners develop comprehensive option menus for policymakers ranging from limited strikes to maximum force scenarios, according to defense officials. Higher-end targets, particularly those located in deeply fortified underground bunkers, require correspondingly larger munitions — and the MOAB represents the ultimate conventional option short of nuclear weapons.

The weapon gained notoriety when it was first used in combat in Afghanistan in 2017, dropped on an ISIS tunnel complex. Its massive blast wave can collapse underground structures and is specifically designed to destroy hardened targets that smaller munitions cannot penetrate. Iranian nuclear facilities, many of which are buried deep underground or reinforced with concrete and steel, represent exactly the type of targets the MOAB was engineered to attack.

This revelation comes amid escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran following a series of incidents involving Iranian proxies attacking American interests across the Middle East. Iran-backed Houthi rebels have launched repeated missile strikes on civilian airports in Saudi Arabia and even targeted the holy city of Medina with cruise missiles, according to the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen.

The strategic calculus behind including the MOAB in strike planning reflects the challenges posed by Iran's nuclear program. Intelligence assessments suggest critical Iranian facilities are housed in reinforced bunkers designed specifically to withstand conventional bombing campaigns. Destroying these sites without nuclear weapons would require the most powerful conventional munitions available.

Critics of military action warn that deploying the MOAB would represent a significant escalation that could trigger a wider regional conflict. Iran has repeatedly threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz and attack American allies throughout the Middle East in response to strikes on its territory. The narrow waterway handles roughly 21 percent of the world's petroleum traffic, meaning any military confrontation could send global energy prices soaring.

Trump administration officials have maintained that all options remain on the table regarding Iran, though they have emphasized a preference for diplomatic and economic pressure through sanctions. The president has also called on allies in Europe and the Middle East to take stronger stances against Iranian aggression rather than leaving the United States to act alone.

The Pentagon planning documents represent contingency preparations rather than an imminent operational order. Military planners routinely develop strike packages for potential adversaries that may never be executed. However, the inclusion of America's most powerful conventional weapon in Iran planning signals the seriousness with which defense officials view the potential conflict and the difficulty of neutralizing deeply buried nuclear facilities.

Whether these plans ever move from Pentagon war rooms to operational reality depends on decisions yet to be made in Washington and actions yet to be taken in Tehran. For now, the "Mother of All Bombs" remains ready for deployment, a stark reminder of the military options available should diplomacy fail to contain Iran's nuclear ambitions.