US Weighs ‘Mother of All Bombs’ Against Iran as Trump Seeks Way Out of War: Report

The US military has developed new strike options against Iran that include the possible use of the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB), popularly known as the “mother of all bombs”, CNN reported, citing multiple US officials familiar with the planning discussions.

The reported options include strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear facilities, including Pickaxe Mountain. They could be considered if US President Donald Trump decides to resume combat operations before or after the November midterm elections, as his administration faces pressure to end a war that has become unpopular among American voters.

According to CNN, one source familiar with the planning said Trump had directed the military to develop additional strike options that included “a lot of energy infrastructure” and the potential deployment of the MOAB.

The source said the language used in the planning discussions suggested a possible operation before a US withdrawal from the area of responsibility of US Central Command, potentially allowing Washington to declare victory and pull its forces out of the region.

A second source told CNN that plans for strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, including Pickaxe Mountain, also included the possible use of the weapon.

Trump has repeatedly threatened to target Pickaxe Mountain, where the US and Israel believe components of Iran’s nuclear programme are stored. The US president has maintained that his objective is to prevent Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

However, the proposed use of the MOAB has raised questions about whether the weapon could effectively destroy heavily fortified underground facilities.

Weighing approximately 21,600 pounds, the GBU-43/B is the largest non-nuclear bomb in the US arsenal. It can produce a devastating blast across a wide area but is not designed to penetrate deeply buried targets.

The suspected nuclear facilities at Pickaxe Mountain are believed to be protected by layers of granite, raising doubts about whether the bomb could reach and destroy them.

“The MOAB is a massive information operation-type weapon that is great for huge area clearance but not much else,” a source familiar with US military planning around Iran told CNN.

“It is definitely not designed as a deep penetration warhead,” the source added.

The source suggested that the weapon could nevertheless have a psychological impact on Iran’s leadership, which has appeared unwilling to yield to Washington’s demands.

“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 said, as quoted by CNN.

The weapon’s wide blast radius could also raise concerns about civilian casualties, particularly if it were used against infrastructure near populated areas or other non-military sites. Some US officials and analysts have reportedly questioned whether deploying the MOAB would meaningfully advance Washington’s objectives or force Tehran to accept a settlement.

Trump Seeks a Way Out

The reported military planning comes as the Trump administration explores ways to end the conflict while presenting the outcome as a political and strategic success.

CNN reported that White House advisers have spent weeks discussing options that could give Trump a “definitive” or symbolic victory, allowing him to withdraw from the conflict without necessarily abandoning diplomacy.

Some options have reportedly been described internally as a “fireworks show”, intended to provide the president with a way out of the war even if the strikes do not achieve all of Washington’s stated objectives.

Trump has said he does not want to deploy US ground troops in Iran. A large-scale ground operation, which some analysts consider necessary for a decisive military defeat of Iran, could expose American forces to substantial casualties.

At the same time, the president has expressed reservations about withdrawing US forces without a clear victory, arguing that such a move could be perceived as a defeat.

Although Trump recently indicated that he would not undertake further military action before the midterm elections, administration advisers reportedly remain uncertain about whether that position is final, CNN reported.

The US military is also preparing for possible Iranian retaliation if Trump authorises additional strikes, according to officials cited by the network.

The MOAB’s Combat History

Developed during the Iraq War, the MOAB is designed to detonate before hitting the ground, producing a powerful blast over a wide area.

Trump became the first US president to authorise its use in combat when the American military dropped the bomb on Islamic State positions in Afghanistan in 2017. The strike targeted a network of fortified underground tunnels used by the militant group to stage attacks against Afghan government forces.

Afghan officials said 36 Islamic State fighters were killed in the operation. US and Afghan officials reported that the blast destroyed three tunnels, along with weapons and ammunition, without causing civilian casualties, CNN reported.

With inputs from ANI