US MOAB Iran plans are under consideration if President Donald Trump decides to restart combat operations in the stalled conflict, according to a CNN report.
US military planners are examining the possible use of the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, widely known as the Mother of All Bombs, against Iranian energy facilities and nuclear sites. Officials familiar with the discussions shared the information with the news outlet.
Trump is facing low approval ratings ahead of the November midterm elections. Polls show the unpopular war with Iran and the resulting rises in fuel and other prices are damaging support for the Republican Party.
Diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, which began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran in February, have remained stuck since the summer.
Some officials have expressed doubts about how effective the large bomb would be, especially against suspected underground nuclear sites. One source described it as mainly useful for clearing large open areas rather than penetrating deep targets.
The United States and Israel have maintained that the war is necessary to stop Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, a goal Tehran has repeatedly denied pursuing.
There are also concerns about possible civilian casualties if such a large weapon were used. In recent weeks Washington has reduced military operations and shifted more toward economic pressure.
The Pentagon has not yet commented on the report. In 2017 the US military dropped the same type of bomb in Afghanistan against Daesh positions in a tunnel and bunker complex.
The latest discussions highlight the difficult choices facing US policymakers as the conflict remains unresolved and political pressure mounts at home.
