Trump Weighs ‘Mother of All Bombs’ Strike on Iran as US Prepares New Military Plans

• by Shimanta Das
• October 17, 2026

The United States military has drawn up fresh strike plans that include the potential use of its most powerful non-nuclear bomb against Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear facilities, according to a CNN report citing multiple US officials. The planning comes as President Donald Trump considers whether to order a resumption of combat operations against Iran. At the center of the proposals is the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB), a 21,600-pound weapon widely known as the ‘mother of all bombs.’ The MOAB, first used in combat in Afghanistan in 2017, is designed to destroy surface targets and tunnel networks, but its effectiveness against deeply buried facilities remains a subject of debate among military planners.nnOne potential target under discussion is the suspected underground nuclear facility at Pickaxe Mountain (also known as Kolang Gaz La). Officials have questioned whether the MOAB, which is a blast weapon rather than a penetrator, could achieve meaningful results against such a hardened site. The weapon’s primary effects would likely be the destruction of surface infrastructure and a significant psychological impact. The uncertainty surrounding the MOAB’s ability to neutralize deeply buried nuclear facilities underscores the challenges facing US planners as they weigh options for a potential escalation.nnMeanwhile, tensions in the region have heightened following a series of attacks on merchant shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that the Singapore-registered container ship GFS Pride was struck by an unknown projectile, caught fire, and later sank. The UKMTO described the threat as ‘severe’ and said that ‘deliberate hostile action’ was highly likely, noting it had recorded eight attacks in the critical waterway since October. The attacks have raised concerns over the safety of commercial shipping through one of the world’s most important oil chokepoints.nnThe potential deployment of the MOAB would mark a significant escalation in the conflict, but its military utility remains uncertain. While the bomb could devastate surface targets and infrastructure, its ability to destroy deeply buried nuclear facilities is limited. The decision to use such a weapon would carry substantial political and psychological weight, and the final determination rests with President