The US military has prepared new plans for possible attacks on Iran's energy infrastructure and nuclear facilities, which include the use of the so-called "mother of all bumblebees", if the US president Donald tramp ordered the continuation of military operations against Iran, CNN reported, citing multiple US officials familiar with military planning.
It is the GBU-43/B MOAB ("Massive Ordnance Air Blast") bomb, the largest non-nuclear explosive weapon in the US arsenal. Its eventual use against Iran would represent a significant escalation of the conflict, but American military planners at the same time express doubts about whether this weapon could achieve Washington's key strategic goals.
According to CNN's sources, Trump ordered the development of additional plans for attacks that would include a large number of energy facilities. One of the considered possibilities is the use of MOABs in operations against Iranian nuclear sites, including the Pickaxe Mountain area, which the US and Israel believe contains parts of Iran's nuclear program.
It is not known whether Trump will authorize such attacks. Although he has publicly indicated that he will not launch new military operations before the US midterm elections on November 3, some of his advisers are not sure if that statement is final, according to CNN.
Doubts about the bomb's effectiveness
Although it has enormous destructive power, the MOAB is not primarily intended to destroy deeply buried installations. It explodes above the ground and creates a powerful shock wave, making it more suitable for targets on the surface than for objects protected by thick layers of rock.
This is precisely the problem for a possible attack on Iran's nuclear facilities. According to CNN's sources, it is suspected that the bomb could penetrate deep enough to destroy facilities believed to be located beneath Mount Pickax, where the facilities may be protected by layers of granite.
One of the sources familiar with military planning estimated that the MOAB is more suitable for destroying large areas than for penetrating deeply dug bunkers. Therefore, its use could also have a psychological purpose, i.e. to increase the pressure on the Iranian leadership by demonstrating destructive power.
An additional risk is the possibility of a large number of civilian victims if the bomb were to be used against infrastructure near populated areas.
Photo: AP Photo/Jose Luis MaganaDonald tramp
Trump is looking for a way out of the war
The planning of new strikes comes as the White House tries to find a way to end the conflict without Trump portraying it as an American defeat. According to CNN, the US president rejected the idea of simply withdrawing American forces, as such a move could be interpreted as a defeat for Washington.
At the same time, Trump shows no readiness for a major ground operation in Iran, which could cause major human losses on the American side. Military planners are considering various options, while parts of the administration are looking for a way for the president to declare success and withdraw forces while still leaving room for a diplomatic deal.
Among the possible goals of such an agreement is the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime route for international energy trade. However, according to CNN's sources, there are no clear indications that Washington and Tehran are close to an agreement.
The "mother of all bombs" was first used in Afghanistan
The MOAB was developed at the beginning of the 2000s, and the US Army used it for the first time in April 2017, during Trump's first presidential term, against the position of the Islamic State in Afghanistan.
The target then was a network of fortified underground tunnels used by the organization's fighters. Afghan authorities announced that 36 members of the Islamic State were killed in the attack.
If it were to be used against Iran, it would be the first use of this bomb in a conflict with that country. American military plans, however, do not yet mean that the decision to attack has been made.
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