U.S. Military Reportedly Weighs ‘Mother of All Bombs’ for Potential Strikes on Iran

The U.S. military is reportedly considering the potential use of one of its most powerful conventional weapons against Iranian targets if President Donald Trump orders a resumption of combat operations, according to CNN. The reported options include Iran’s energy infrastructure and nuclear-related sites, raising questions about how Washington might escalate its military campaign if diplomatic efforts fail.

The weapon under consideration is the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, widely known as the “Mother of All Bombs,” or MOAB. Designed to deliver an enormous conventional explosive blast, the weapon is among the largest non-nuclear bombs in the American arsenal. Its potential use against Iran would represent a significant development in any renewed military confrontation.

The GBU-43/B weighs approximately 9,800 kilograms, or 21,600 pounds, and carries roughly 8,500 kilograms of high explosives. Unlike nuclear weapons, the MOAB relies on conventional explosives. However, its immense size and destructive power make it a specialized weapon intended for targets where a massive blast effect is required.

According to the report, military planners are considering the possibility of using the bomb if Trump directs U.S. forces to resume combat operations. Such a decision could come before or after the upcoming midterm elections, although the reported consideration does not establish that an attack has been approved or that the weapon will ultimately be deployed.

The United States has never used the MOAB against Iran. Its first combat use occurred in Afghanistan in April 2017, when American forces dropped the weapon on an Islamic State tunnel complex in Nangarhar Province. That operation demonstrated the bomb’s battlefield capabilities and brought international attention to its extraordinary destructive potential.

Any potential strike against Iranian energy infrastructure or nuclear-related facilities would carry significant military and geopolitical implications. Energy installations are important to Iran’s economy, while attacks on nuclear sites could further intensify tensions surrounding the country’s nuclear program. The consequences would depend on the targets selected, the scale of any operation, and Iran’s response.

For now, the reported discussions point to a possible military option rather than a confirmed operational decision. Whether the Trump administration would authorize such a strike remains uncertain.

The central question is whether Washington will pursue renewed military action or continue seeking another path to address its disputes with Tehran. If combat operations resume, the weapons considered for use could offer an indication of how far the United States is prepared to go in its next phase of confrontation with Iran.