Key facts
- US military plans include potential use of the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb against Iran.
- Targets could include Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear sites.
- Deployment would be ordered by President Donald Trump if he resumes combat operations.
- The bomb is the largest non-nuclear bomb in the US arsenal.
- Officials question the bomb's effectiveness in achieving strategic objectives.
The US military has developed strike plans that could involve using the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb, also known as the 'mother of all bombs,' against Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear sites if President Donald Trump orders a resumption of combat operations, according to CNN, citing multiple US officials familiar with the matter. The potential deployment of the largest non-nuclear bomb in the US arsenal would mark a significant escalation in the conflict. However, officials familiar with military planning discussions expressed doubts about its effectiveness in accomplishing Washington's strategic objectives or tipping the balance of the war. The report comes as Trump faces pressure to end the war before the upcoming midterm elections, with little indication of a negotiated resolution after more than six months of US bombing.