White House prepares plan to use ‘mother of all bombs’ on Iran if Trump orders strikes: Report
WASHINGTON, DC: According to sources who spoke with CBS News, the White House and Pentagon have drawn up plans to use the Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) bomb, often called the “mother of all bombs,” against Iranian military targets if President Donald Trump decides to resume strikes.
While Washington keeps up the pressure on Tehran over its nuclear program, Trump’s message is clear: military action is still very much on the table if talks break down.
Pentagon prepares options as Trump keeps military action on the table
A Pentagon official confirmed the Department of Defense is getting ready for all sorts of operational scenarios.
When asked about specific plans, the White House wouldn’t say anything concrete.
Trump keeps insisting the US won’t attack Iran before the midterm elections and claims he’s had “productive conversations” with Tehran.
Still, his administration hasn’t eased up on the blockade of Iranian ports, and tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, which is a strategic hotspot, haven’t gone anywhere.
"The Department of War plans for a wide range of operational scenarios to execute presidential and secretary-level direction and to ensure mission success in any operational environment,” a Pentagon official told CBS News.
A White House spokesperson said: "We do not comment on sensitive military plans that may or may not exist. President Trump keeps all options on the table to ensure that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon."
The Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, or MOAB, stands out as the biggest non-nuclear weapon the US has. It’s a beast, over 30,000 pounds, and the price tag hits around $170,000 for each one. Its job is simple: level ground targets with a massive explosion.
CNN broke the news on Thursday, October 14, about possible moves to use the MOAB. The US military first tried it in 2017, targeting an ISIS cave system in Afghanistan. That decision set a clear example during Trump’s first term.
Lately, there’s been a kind of uneasy pause after months of US strikes on Iranian targets. Neither side has been eager to escalate, at least for now. Still, Trump’s made it clear that if negotiations with Iran fall apart, he’s ready to bring military force right back into play.
In a speech to the United Nations General Assembly last month, the president said he has a "big decision to make" on whether to strike a deal with Iran or "annihilate the Islamic Republic."
Iran tensions persist around Strait of Hormuz
The US is enforcing a blockade on Iranian ports and seeking to keep oil flowing through the Strait of Hormuz.
But Iran has continued to threaten and strike ships in the key waterway, keeping global oil prices high.
Over the summer, US strikes aimed at Iran focused mainly on its conventional military assets near the strait. US Central Command (CENTCOM) pointed to targets like air defense systems, missile depots, and drone storage.
Trump brought up the idea of hitting Iranian nuclear sites, Pickaxe Mountain included. That site sits deep underground, and experts suspect it’s tied to Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
The reported MOAB planning adds another option to the administration’s arsenal as it decides what to do next. Still, prepping military plans doesn’t mean Trump has actually approved an attack or plans to use the bomb.
