Report: US considers using 'mother of all bombs' against Iran for first time

American officials told CNN that the US military has developed new strike plans against Iran that include the possible use of the MOAB bomb ("mother of all bombs") to target energy infrastructure and nuclear sites, if President Trump orders it. However, sources expressed doubts about the bomb's effectiveness against underground targets.

American officials familiar with the matter told CNN that the US military has developed new strike plans against Iran, including for the first time the possible use of the MOAB bomb ("mother of all bombs") – the largest non-nuclear bomb in the American arsenal. The plans are intended to hit numerous energy infrastructure and Iranian nuclear sites, including Mount Makush, where the US and Israel estimate components of the nuclear program are stored. President Trump ordered the military to develop additional strike packages, and the wording used was that the strike would be carried out "before the American withdrawal from the CENTCOM area of responsibility," hinting at an intention to declare victory and withdraw forces quickly. However, sources familiar with internal discussions expressed significant doubts about the bomb's effectiveness: the MOAB, GPS-guided and capable of destroying an area equivalent to nine city blocks, is not designed for deep penetration, and the nuclear facilities at Mount Makush are protected by layers of granite rock. The bomb has been used in combat only once – in Afghanistan in 2017, against ISIS tunnels. The article is based on anonymous sources and also presents the position of skeptics within the US military.