The United States military has developed contingency plans that could involve deploying its most powerful non-nuclear bomb against Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear facilities if President Donald Trump orders a resumption of military operations, according to a report citing US officials.
The weapon, known as the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB), is widely referred to as the “Mother of All Bombs”. Its possible use would represent a significant escalation in the conflict, although military officials have reportedly questioned whether it would achieve Washington’s strategic objectives.
The reported plans include potential targets linked to Iran’s energy infrastructure and nuclear programme, including the suspected underground nuclear facility at Pickaxe Mountain. The United States and Israel believe the site is connected to Iran’s nuclear activities, while Washington has maintained that preventing Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon remains a central objective.
However, the MOAB’s effectiveness against deeply buried installations remains uncertain. Although the GPS-guided weapon is designed to generate an enormous blast capable of devastating large surface areas, it is not primarily designed to penetrate deeply fortified underground structures.
Officials familiar with the planning discussions reportedly expressed doubts about whether the bomb could destroy facilities protected by thick layers of rock and other underground defences. Its potential deployment could therefore have a substantial destructive and psychological impact without necessarily eliminating the nuclear infrastructure Washington seeks to neutralise.
The weapon weighs approximately 21,600 pounds and was developed during the Iraq War. It detonates above the ground, producing a powerful blast across a wide area. Its design makes it particularly suited to large surface targets and certain fortified positions rather than deeply buried facilities requiring specialised penetrator weapons.
Trump previously authorised the use of the MOAB in Afghanistan in April 2017, when US forces targeted an Islamic State tunnel network. That operation marked the weapon’s first combat deployment.
The latest discussions come amid continuing uncertainty over the future of US military operations against Iran and efforts to find a path towards ending the conflict. Military planners have reportedly prepared several options for the president, but the existence of contingency plans does not mean a final decision to use the weapon has been made.
The potential targeting of energy infrastructure also raises concerns about the wider consequences of renewed attacks, including civilian casualties, damage to essential services and possible retaliation by Iran against US forces or regional interests.
For now, the proposed deployment remains a reported military option rather than a confirmed operation. The effectiveness of the weapon against Iran’s underground nuclear facilities, and whether Trump would authorise its use, remain unresolved questions.