US Considering ‘Mother of All Bombs’ in Potential Strikes on Iran, Reports Say
The United States is reportedly considering the deployment of its largest non-nuclear bomb against Iran if military operations resume, according to informed sources cited by CNN.
PothikTV News Desk: 16 October 2026, 7:04 am
The United States is considering the deployment of its largest non-nuclear bomb against Iran if President Donald Trump decides to resume military operations, according to informed sources cited by CNN. The ongoing conflict between Washington and Tehran is currently stalled, but plans remain under consideration.
Reports published on Thursday indicate that the U.S. military is contemplating the use of the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB)—popularly known as the ‘Mother of All Bombs’—to target Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear facilities. However, several officials have raised doubts regarding the weapon’s effectiveness, particularly questioning its ability to destroy Iran’s underground nuclear installations.
A source familiar with the planning told CNN that the MOAB is primarily an ‘information operation’ weapon that excels at clearing vast surface areas but accomplishes little beyond that. The source noted that the bomb was not designed as a deep-penetration warhead capable of striking heavily fortified subterranean bunkers.
The potential use of such a large-scale weapon has also raised significant concerns regarding civilian casualties. French news agency AFP contacted the Pentagon, the U.S. Department of Defense, for comment regarding these reports.
The U.S. military previously deployed the MOAB in 2017 against an Islamic State (IS) bunker hideout in Afghanistan. That strike reportedly resulted in the deaths of over 90 militants.
Prior to making any decisions on executing such military strikes, President Trump is currently focusing on upcoming midterm elections, attending rallies across various states to bolster support for his party. Public opinion polls suggest that the Republican Party’s image has been adversely affected by rising fuel and consumer prices linked to the conflict with Iran.
Both the United States and Israel have maintained that military actions are necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Tehran has consistently denied having any ambitions to develop nuclear arms.
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the war that began in February remain at a standstill. Washington has scaled back direct military actions in recent weeks, pivoting toward a strategy focused on increasing economic pressure on Tehran.
