CNN has reported a game-changing development in the event of a renewed Middle East conflict, revealing what could happen if the US launches another military offensive against Iran. According to the American network, the US military has drawn up attack plans against Iran that may include the use of the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) bomb — widely known as the “mother of all bombs.”
The weapon would be deployed against Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear facilities. The potential use of the largest non-nuclear bomb in the American arsenal would represent a significant escalation of the conflict.
According to CNN, military officials familiar with US planning discussions in the region noted that questions remain about whether deploying the MOAB would effectively achieve Washington’s strategic objectives.
Pressure on Trump to end the war with Iran
Trump is facing growing pressure to bring the deeply unpopular war to an end, as Republicans brace for potential political fallout ahead of the upcoming midterm elections. Meanwhile, after more than six months of American airstrikes, there are few signs that the two countries are anywhere close to reaching a negotiated agreement.
The US military continues to present Trump with options for potential strikes against targets in Iran. However, some officials have privately questioned whether the White House has a coherent strategy that integrates these plans in a way that could realistically lead to an end to the war — a decision that ultimately rests with the president alone.
In recent weeks, White House advisers have held meetings to discuss various options regarding Iran. Although Trump publicly announced that he would not authorize new military action before the midterm elections, several of his advisers privately admitted they were unsure whether that statement was final or subject to change.
One source told CNN that Trump has ordered the military to develop additional strike plans targeting Iranian assets, including “a wide range of energy infrastructure” and the potential use of a MOAB bomb.
The same source noted that the language used suggested the strike would occur “prior to the withdrawal of US forces from the CENTCOM area of responsibility.” This implies the administration could launch new attacks, attempt to declare victory, and then rapidly withdraw all its forces from the region.
A second source told CNN that military plans for strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities — including the facility at Fordow mountain, where uranium enrichment operations at Natanz are located — also explicitly call for the use of the MOAB.
In recent months, Trump has repeatedly threatened to strike Fordow, where the US and Israel believe Tehran has stored components of its nuclear program. Those threats have continued even after full-scale combat operations were suspended earlier in the year. Trump continues to stress that his goal is to ensure Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon.
Doubts over the MOAB’s effectiveness
Another American official noted that when the military draws up plans, it presents policymakers with a range of options spanning from the most powerful to the least powerful strikes available.
Higher-priority or harder-to-reach targets — including those buried deep underground — require larger bombs, the official added, noting that the MOAB is the largest in that category.
However, serious questions remain about whether the MOAB would be an effective weapon against Iran’s nuclear facilities and other deeply buried targets.
Although the GPS-guided bomb is capable of devastating an area equivalent to nine city blocks, it likely lacks the penetrating power needed to destroy the suspected nuclear facilities at Fordow mountain — believed to be shielded by thick layers of granite — as well as Iran’s other remaining nuclear sites, according to sources.
The MOAB is the most powerful non-nuclear bomb in the US arsenal, weighing approximately 9,800 kilograms.
Trump announces advanced weapons testing center in Montana
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump announced plans on Wednesday for what he described as a specialized testing center for technologically advanced weapons systems in Montana.
The facility would be used to test cutting-edge defense technologies, including autonomous weapons, space-based systems, electronic warfare capabilities, and hypersonic weapons.
The announcement was made by the American president at a campaign rally in the city of Kalispell, Montana — a town of 30,000 residents located approximately 320 kilometers northwest of the state capital, Helena.
It was the final stop on a campaign tour in which President Trump rallied support for Republican Party candidates across multiple American states ahead of the November 3rd congressional midterm elections.
The speech was part of a broader push focused on hard-fought electoral battles in states leaning toward the Republicans.
