US military develops strike plans using MOAB bomb against Iran

The US military has developed strike plans that could involve deploying the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb (MOAB)—the largest non-nuclear weapon in the US arsenal—against Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear sites, according to CNN reporting on October 15, 2026. The weapon, weighing approximately 21,000 pounds (9,525 kg), would only be used if President Donald Trump orders a resumption of combat operations. Trump stated on October 8 that the United States would not launch new attacks on Iran before the November 3 midterm elections, though he left open the possibility of further military action afterward.

Military planners have included Iranian nuclear facilities near Pickaxe Mountain among potential targets. According to sources familiar with the planning, the strike would potentially occur "prior to US retrograde in CENTCOM AOR" (area of responsibility), suggesting US forces might withdraw from the region after such an operation. However, multiple military and defense experts expressed significant doubts about the weapon's effectiveness against deeply buried Iranian nuclear sites. One source told CNN that the MOAB "is definitely not designed as a deep penetration warhead" and is instead "a massive information operation type weapon that is great for huge area clearance." Experts noted that Iranian nuclear facilities are reinforced with multiple layers of granite buried deep underground, making them resistant to the MOAB's blast effects.

The potential deployment would mark a notable escalation in the US-Iran conflict, which has already strained global energy supplies and regional security, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz. Some military officials suggested the primary tactical value of the MOAB would be its psychological effect rather than its destructive capability against fortified underground targets. Concerns also persist about civilian casualties given the weapon's large blast radius if used near populated areas. The White House stated that "President Trump keeps all options on the table to ensure that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon," while declining to comment on specific military plans.