U.S. reportedly considers use of 'mother of all bombs' as Iran vows to fight on

The United States is reportedly preparing options for renewed military action against Iran. The most striking possibility is using the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb, known as the “mother of all bombs.” CNN reported the plans, although CNBC had not independently confirmed them. The possibility matters because the weapon is extremely large and has not previously been used against targets inside Iran.

The reported options involve a powerful air-burst bomb designed to affect surface targets across a wide area. The article does not identify a final target or say that President Donald Trump approved any strike. Iran, meanwhile, is reportedly strengthening defenses around energy and nuclear sites, suggesting Tehran is preparing for renewed attacks.

Trump said he would not resume strikes before the Nov. 3 midterm elections. Still, tensions remain high because of a sinking container ship in the Strait of Hormuz and fatal attacks on Saudi Arabia by Iran-backed Houthis. Iran says it will combine military capabilities, negotiations, and regional leverage to press its demands.

The GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb is a very large conventional weapon. It is nicknamed the “mother of all bombs,” or MOAB. The article identifies it as one of the biggest non-nuclear bombs in the U.S. arsenal. Its size and blast pattern make it important in discussions about possible strikes on Iran.

The bomb is designed to explode in the air above the ground. This air-burst method spreads its force across a broad surface area. According to the article, it is intended to affect surface targets over a wide area. The source does not provide a precise radius, blast pressure, or list of specific target types.

The Pentagon has not previously used the MOAB against targets inside Iran. CNN reported that U.S. options could include it, but CNBC had not independently confirmed the report. The weapon was previously used in Afghanistan in 2017, giving the proposal a clear historical precedent without proving that a new strike will occur.

The MOAB is a 21,600-pound air-burst bomb. That weight places it among the largest non-nuclear weapons in the U.S. arsenal. Its scale matters because the weapon is designed for broad effects, not merely for hitting a single small target. The article describes it as capable of affecting surface targets over a wide area.

An air-burst weapon detonates above the ground rather than after striking the surface. That allows its blast to spread outward across the surrounding area. The article does not state the bomb’s exact affected radius or explain how much damage it would cause to particular buildings, facilities, or underground sites. It only identifies its broad-area design and surface-target purpose.

The reported plans are significant because the MOAB has not previously been used by the United States against targets inside Iran. It was used in Afghanistan in 2017. Whether the weapon would actually be selected, and what target it might be assigned, remains uncertain because the report was not independently confirmed.

The article reports that Iran is strengthening defenses around sensitive energy and nuclear sites in preparation for a possible resumption of attacks. A strike on such sites could be intended to weaken capabilities the United States views as important to Iran’s military or strategic position. However, the article does not state a specific U.S. rationale, approved target, or operational plan.

The reported American options include the possible use of the MOAB, a weapon designed to affect surface targets over a wide area. Iran’s preparations show that Tehran is treating the possibility seriously. The source does not say whether the sites have already been attacked or whether any damage has occurred.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Iran would combine military and defensive capabilities, negotiations, and regional strategic leverage. Iranian officials have demanded that Washington lift its naval blockade and sanctions and withdraw U.S. forces from the region. Ghalibaf said Iran wants to avoid endless war while preventing adversaries from achieving their goals through attacks.

The article states that the United States used the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb in Afghanistan in 2017. It does not identify the target, explain the military result, report casualties, or describe the weapon’s specific effects there. Those details therefore cannot be established from the source provided.

What the history clearly shows is that the MOAB has already been deployed in combat. Its previous use demonstrates that the weapon is not purely experimental or theoretical. The article also emphasizes an important limit: it has not been used by the United States against targets inside Iran. That distinction makes any possible Iranian deployment especially significant.

The Afghanistan precedent is relevant because U.S. officials are reportedly considering the bomb again while tensions with Tehran remain elevated. Still, the report does not establish that the weapon will be used. Trump said he would not order renewed strikes before the Nov. 3 midterm elections, and CNBC had not independently confirmed CNN’s report.

The Strait of Hormuz is a major regional shipping route, and fighting nearby could make transportation more dangerous or disrupt deliveries. That could reduce the amount of oil reaching markets, raise energy prices, and increase costs for households and businesses. These are established risks of conflict near a crucial energy corridor, although the article does not provide forecasts or quantities.

The article points to warning signs already visible in the region. A container ship sank in the strait on Wednesday. It also reports a series of fatal attacks on Saudi Arabia by Iran-backed Houthis. At home, Americans are already feeling soaring energy prices and wider cost pressures, increasing pressure on the White House before the midterms.

If fighting expands, regional security could deteriorate further through more attacks, military responses, and defensive deployments. The article does not say that oil supplies have been cut or that the sinking caused a specific price increase. It does show that tensions are elevated and that energy costs are already politically important.

International pressure rarely depends on one tool alone. Military force can threaten or damage capabilities. Economic sanctions can restrict money, trade, and access to supplies. Negotiations offer a route to reduce pressure through an agreement. Control of a strategic waterway can affect shipping and energy flows, giving governments additional leverage.

The article describes this combination through the U.S.-Iran confrontation. Washington is considering possible strikes and has imposed sanctions, while Iranian officials refer to a U.S. naval blockade and American forces in the region. Tehran’s parliament speaker said Iran should combine military and defensive capabilities, negotiations, and regional strategic leverage. Each tool can reinforce the others, but each can also raise tensions.

Iran has demanded that Washington lift the blockade and sanctions and withdraw its military forces from the region. Ghalibaf said Iran does not seek an endless war, but wants to prevent adversaries from achieving their objectives through attacks. The article does not say whether these tools will produce an agreement or renewed fighting.