By George Omagbemi
The United States military has reportedly developed new strike plans that could involve using its largest non-nuclear bomb against Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear facilities if President Donald Trump orders renewed military operations.
CNN reported on Wednesday, citing multiple US officials familiar with the plans, that the options include the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB), popularly known as the “mother of all bombs.”
The report said potential targets could include Iranian energy installations and nuclear-related sites, including a location known as Pickaxe Mountain.
However, the reported plans do not amount to a confirmed presidential order to deploy the weapon.
Reuters, which reported CNN’s findings on Thursday, said it could not independently verify the report.
The MOAB is the largest non-nuclear bomb in the US arsenal. Its possible use against Iran would represent a significant escalation, although officials familiar with the military planning reportedly questioned whether the weapon could achieve Washington’s strategic objectives.
CNN also reported that the bomb may not be capable of penetrating deeply buried nuclear facilities, raising questions about its effectiveness against some of the potential targets.
The prospect of further US strikes comes amid continuing tensions between Washington and Tehran and uncertainty over efforts to end the conflict.
For now, the reported deployment remains a possible military option rather than a confirmed operation. The White House has not been established by the cited reports as having approved the use of the bomb.
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