US-Iran War Live News: What is the GBU-43/B ‘Mother of All Bombs’? US Weighs MOAB for Iran Strikes Amid Doubts Over Underground Targets – Check Range, Power and Key Features

US-Israel-Iran War Latest News: The United States is weighing another possible military escalation against Iran, with fresh strike plans reportedly including one of its most powerful conventional weapons. According to a CNN report published on October 14 and citing US officials familiar with military planning, the Pentagon has drawn up options involving the BGU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, widely known as the “mother of all bombs”, to target Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear sites.

The suspected underground facility at Pickaxe Mountain is among the potential targets. However, the plans do not mean President Donald Trump has authorised an attack, and questions remain over whether the weapon could damage deeply buried facilities.

US Military Reportedly Includes MOAB in New Iran Strikes Plans

The US military has prepared additional strike options that could come into consideration if Trump decides to resume combat operations against Iran, CNN reported, citing multiple officials familiar with the planning.

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According to the report, one set of options focuses on Iranian energy infrastructure, while other plans include nuclear-related sites, including Pickaxe Mountain. One source familiar with the planning told CNN that Trump had ordered additional strike packages covering “a lot of energy infrastructure”.

A second source said plans for attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities, including Pickaxe Mountain, explicitly included the MOAB.

The White House has not confirmed that Trump has approved any such operation. An official told CNN that the administration does not comment on sensitive military plans that may or may not exist, adding that Trump “keeps all options on the table to ensure that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon”.

The Pentagon said it plans for a wide range of operational scenarios to carry out presidential and defence secretary directives. Reuters also reported the CNN findings but said it had not independently verified the report. 

US-Iran War Live News: What is the ‘Mother of All Bombs’?

The GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, or MOAB, is one of the largest conventional weapons in the US arsenal. It weighs approximately 21,600 pounds, or 9.8 tonnes, and carries around 18,700 pounds of explosive material. The GPS-guided weapon was developed in 2003 and is designed to produce a powerful blast over a wide area.