US Military has prepared new strike plans that could involve dropping the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, better known as the “mother of all bombs,” on Iranian targets.
According to a CNN report on October 15, 2026, citing multiple US officials, these plans cover energy infrastructure and nuclear sites. The option would be available if President Donald Trump orders renewed combat operations, either before or after the November midterm elections.
What the plans include
Trump has directed the military to develop additional strike packages. One source said the packages include “a lot of energy infrastructure” and the possible use of a MOAB.
Another source confirmed that plans targeting Iranian nuclear facilities including the underground site known as Pickaxe Mountain, explicitly mention the MOAB.
The GBU-43/B is the largest non-nuclear bomb in the US arsenal. It weighs about 21,600 pounds and creates a massive air blast over a wide area, roughly the size of nine city blocks. It has been used only once in combat, in Afghanistan in 2017.
Doubts about effectiveness
Officials familiar with the planning told CNN there are serious questions about whether the bomb would achieve Washington’s goals.
The MOAB is designed for surface area clearance, not deep penetration. Pickaxe Mountain and other suspected nuclear sites are believed to be buried under layers of granite, so the bomb may not destroy them.
One source described it as “a massive information operation type weapon that is great for huge area clearance but not much else.” Concerns about civilian casualties have also been raised.
Reuters noted it could not immediately verify the CNN report. A White House official said Trump keeps all options on the table to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon but declined to discuss specific military plans.
Iran has placed its forces on higher alert and conducted recent missile tests. The possible use of the mother of all bombs would mark a major escalation in the ongoing conflict.
