Washington considers using 'Mother of All Bombs' against Iran

Amid political pressure to end the war and efforts to find a swift exit, the U.S. military is drawing up new plans for strikes that could include the use of the so-called “Mother of All Bombs” to target Iran’s energy infrastructure and nuclear facilities, should President Donald Trump order a resumption of combat operations, whether before or after the midterm elections, according to U.S. officials familiar with the matter.

CNN, citing U.S. officials familiar with internal military discussions on the potential use of the weapon, reported that employing a GBU-43/B bomb, also known as the “Mother of All Bombs”—the largest non-nuclear weapon in the U.S. arsenal—for the first time in the conflict with Iran would represent a significant escalation, despite doubts about its effectiveness in achieving any of the strategic objectives announced by Trump or in tipping the balance of the war.

The network quoted sources familiar with the matter as saying the military is considering the potential use of the GBU-43/B, known as the “Mother of All Bombs,” against Iran’s energy infrastructure and nuclear sites, and is continuing to provide Trump with additional options against Iran. Among the military action options against Iran are strikes on massive infrastructure and remaining targets.

However, some officials are still privately questioning whether the White House has a strategy that integrates these plans into a framework capable of actually ending the war, a decision that only the president has the authority to make.

One source said the “Mother of All Bombs” is “effective at destroying vast areas, but it cannot do more than that,” noting that it is not designed to serve as a warhead capable of penetrating fortifications.

The use of this bomb, the largest non-nuclear weapon in the U.S. arsenal, would constitute a serious escalation in the conflict. However, officials familiar with military planning discussions told CNN that questions remain about its viability in achieving Washington’s strategic objectives.

Last week, the U.S. president ruled out launching an attack on Iran before the midterm elections scheduled for November 3, speaking of “productive discussions” with Tehran. However, the protracted and unresolved nature of the war has placed his administration under considerable pressure.

This comes as the war on Iran and its repercussions on commodities and fuel prices have contributed to a decline in Trump’s popularity in opinion polls shortly before the elections.

In Tehran, President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran is facing the harshest sanctions and difficulties since the “Islamic Revolution of 1979,” accusing the United States of seeking to increase living pressures to spark protests within the country.

Pezeshkian added in a televised address on Wednesday evening, “In the 48 years since the Revolution, we have not faced sanctions, war, and difficulties as severe as those we are facing today,” accusing Washington of focusing on “making the people resentful and facing hardships, so that social protests emerge, enabling them to achieve their malicious goals.”