US military plans for possible strike on Iran using MOAB, report says

The United States military has drawn up attack plans against Iran that could include the GBU-43/B, known as the MOAB, according to a report published on Thursday. The potential targets cited are nuclear facilities and the country's energy infrastructure. The report says the plans would be used if President Donald Trump orders a resumption of military operations.

The information was attributed to American officials cited by CNN International. The report said the use of the largest non-nuclear bomb in the US arsenal would amount to a significant escalation in the conflict. It also said there are still doubts about whether the weapon would be effective in achieving Washington's strategic aims.

The MOAB, whose nickname stands for Mother of All Bombs, is a GPS-guided bomb designed to be dropped from military transport aircraft such as the MC-130 with the help of a parachute. The weapon weighs about 9.8 tonnes and is roughly nine metres long, with explosive power equivalent to about 11 tonnes of TNT. It was first tested in Florida in March 2003 and was developed by Albert L.

Weimorts Jr. at the US Air Force Research Laboratory. The reported planning comes after the United States decided to suspend attacks on Iranian targets until the end of the midterm legislative elections, scheduled for 3 November. Earlier in October, Trump said Washington would not carry out new strikes against Iran until the end of the month and said the two sides were having productive discussions.

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After that statement, the US Treasury announced new sanctions on Iran targeting dozens of people, entities and vessels. The report suggests the military option remains under consideration even without a ceasefire agreement in place between Washington and Tehran. That leaves open the possibility of renewed pressure on Iran's nuclear and energy sectors if the White House changes course.

The mention of energy infrastructure also points to the wider economic risks of any escalation, given the importance of that sector to the country. What remains unclear is whether the plans would be approved, what specific targets would be selected, and whether the MOAB would be part of any eventual operation. It is also not known whether the reported pause in strikes will hold beyond the election period.

The next developments to watch are any further statements from the White House, the Pentagon, or Iranian officials, as well as any change in sanctions or military posture.

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