Trump Plans to Strike Iran with 'Mother of All Bombs'

Washington, D.C. – Agencies: The United States is considering bombing Iran with its most powerful non-nuclear bomb should President Donald Trump decide to launch a new round of escalation, after the war that began in February with U.S. and Israeli strikes on the Islamic Republic has reached a deadlock. CNN reported that sources familiar with the matter said the military is studying the potential use of the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) bomb, known as the “Mother of All Bombs,” against Iran’s energy infrastructure and nuclear sites. Over the past few weeks, White House advisers have held meetings to discuss various options for dealing with Iran. While Trump has publicly stated he will not take new actions before the midterm elections, several advisers in private conversations said they do not know whether this statement is final or if it could change before election day. One source told CNN that Pentagon wording indicated the attack would occur before the U.S. withdrawal from the Central Command area of responsibility, suggesting the administration might launch additional strikes, attempt to declare victory, and then quickly withdraw its forces. A second source said military plans to strike Iranian nuclear facilities, including the Mount Fashan site, explicitly also call for the use of the MOAB. Trump has repeatedly threatened in recent months to strike Mount Fashan, which the U.S. and Israel believe Tehran uses to store components of its nuclear program. A White House official told CNN that they do not comment on sensitive military plans, whether they exist or not, adding that President Trump keeps all options on the table to ensure Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon. However, some officials doubt the effectiveness of this bomb, particularly its ability to destroy Iran’s underground nuclear sites. A source familiar with the plans told the network that while the bomb is effective at destroying large areas, it cannot do more, noting it is not designed like a warhead capable of penetrating fortifications. During Trump’s first term, the U.S. military used the “Mother of All Bombs” for the first time in 2017 to target ISIS caves and tunnels in Afghanistan, killing more than 90 militants. On the night of Wednesday into Thursday, Trump renewed his statements that the war with Iran would end very soon and that oil prices would fall. At a campaign rally in Montana, Trump said, “I had to at least keep their leaders, because I don’t know who we’re negotiating with.” Meanwhile, the U.S. president said he had previously canceled an attack on Iran because its timing was leaked to the media, adding that those who leaked the information should be shot. Trump explained that B-2 bombers had been dispatched earlier to carry out attacks on Iran, but information about the operation was leaked before it was executed. He added that the leaks were published in media outlets, including CNN and The New York Times, allowing the Iranians to learn of the attack in advance. He stressed that there must be no tolerance for those who leak information about U.S. military activities, considering them to endanger the country’s national security. Separately, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) accused Iran of being the only state attacking civilian mariners transiting the Strait of Hormuz, affirming that U.S. forces and regional partners continue to protect navigation despite escalating security risks.