U.S. drafts plans to use ‘Mother of All Bombs’ on Iranian energy and nuclear sites, CNN reports
U.S. officials told CNN the military has drawn up strike plans that include possible use of its most powerful non‑nuclear bomb, the MOAB, against Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear‑related sites such as the Pickaxe Mountain complex, while doubting the weapon could destroy deeply buried facilities and viewing it as a psychological tool.
U.S. officials have prepared new military options for striking Iran that would bring one of Washington’s most powerful conventional weapons back into focus.
According to multiple U.S. officials cited by CNN, the Pentagon has developed strike plans that include potential use of the Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, known as the “Mother of All Bombs” or MOAB, against parts of Iran’s energy infrastructure and nuclear‑related sites.
The plans are framed as options should President Donald Trump order a resumption of combat operations against Iran, with timing described as either before or after the midterm elections. The reported target set includes energy facilities and nuclear sites such as the complex at Pickaxe Mountain.
The MOAB is the most powerful non‑nuclear bomb in the U.S. arsenal. Officials quoted in the CNN report, however, questioned its effectiveness against Iran’s most hardened nuclear facilities. They expressed doubt that the bomb could destroy deeply buried structures and characterized its main value as psychological, allowing Trump to claim he had hit nuclear‑linked targets while inflicting more substantial damage on above‑ground energy assets.
Strikes on refineries, export terminals or other parts of Iran’s energy system would go straight to the core of its economy. They would threaten export revenues and introduce new uncertainty into already tense energy markets.
Contemplating MOAB use against Iranian sites also raises the risk of a wider confrontation. Any attack framed around nuclear‑linked targets could draw a strong response from Tehran and increase pressure on U.S. partners in the Gulf and beyond.
Drafting these plans does not mean they will be executed, but it signals that U.S. military and political leaders are considering highly visible strike options alongside more limited tools such as cyber operations or smaller‑scale raids.
Developments to watch include any change in U.S. bomber deployments or munitions movements to bases near Iran, public statements from Iranian officials about potential retaliation, and indications of concern or support from U.S. allies if scenarios involving the MOAB move higher on Washington’s options list.
Sources
- OSINT