U.S. Military May Be Considering Dusting Off The MOAB For Iran

The United States military is reportedly considering using the “mother of all bombs” against Iran if President Donald Trump orders renewed attacks. 

The weapon, formally known as the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb, or MOAB, is the largest non-nuclear bomb in the U.S. arsenal. According to CNN, Trump has ordered the military to develop additional strike packages that include “a lot of energy infrastructure” and the potential use of the MOAB. Plans for striking Iranian nuclear sites, including the facility known as Pickaxe Mountain, also explicitly call for the weapon. 

The United States first used the MOAB in combat in April 2017, during President Donald Trump’s first term, to target an ISIS-K tunnel complex in Afghanistan. Military officials said the weapon was chosen to minimize the risk to Afghan and American forces conducting clearing operations in the area, where ISIS-K had fortified its defenses with improvised explosive devices, bunkers, and underground tunnels.

However, sources familiar with the planning told CNN there are doubts about whether using the weapon would achieve Trump’s stated objectives or tip the balance of the war. Its potential use is among the options being developed for the president. 

The report comes despite Trump’s pledge last week not to attack Iran before the November 3 midterm elections. CNN reported that several White House advisers said privately they did not know whether Trump’s statement was definitive.

Iran has acknowledged the strain it is facing. The Daily Wire reported on Thursday that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian described the pressure on his country during a development conference.

“Never in the 48 years since the Islamic Revolution have we been under such pressure and faced such difficulties,” Pezeshkian said.

Elsewhere in the region, leaders are bracing for further turmoil. Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, urged Qataris on Tuesday to prepare for worst-case scenarios as the conflict strains the country’s economy. Trump initially claimed the war would last around six weeks, but it is now in its eighth month. 

At home, higher energy costs have added to the economic pressure on Americans and are expected to create political challenges for Republicans heading into the midterm elections, where the economy remains one of voters’ top concerns.

Trump has repeatedly called higher costs a “very inexpensive price to pay for what we’ve done,” referring to his administration’s efforts to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

In his announcement last week, Trump said discussions with Iran were continuing while the blockade remained in place.

“We are having productive discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran. I want to make it clear to everybody that, while Iran is in very bad condition, both economically and militarily, and while the Blockade will remain in full force and effect, with Oil flowing in Record Numbers of Barrels through the Hormuz Strait,” he said. “We will not be attacking Iran at any time prior to the Midterm Elections to be held in the United States on November 3rd.”

He added that “Iran will not have a nuclear weapon.”