CNN: The U.S. May Drop The "Mother Of All Bombs" On Iran

• 15.10.2026, 11:29

The Pentagon's New Plan.

The Pentagon allows for the use of the "mother of all bombs" against energy and nuclear facilities the “mother of all bombs,” reports CNN reports, citing several U.S. officials. This refers to the GBU-43/B (Massive Ordnance Air Blast, MOAB) high-explosive aerial bomb, the most powerful non-nuclear munition in the U.S. arsenal. Its explosive yield is equivalent to 11 metric tons of TNT, with a blast radius of about 140 meters, and partial damage is possible at distances of up to 1.5 kilometers from the epicenter.

If the bombs are used, it would be the first time during the current conflict and would constitute a serious escalation. However, according to CNN sources familiar with internal discussions, military officials doubt that such a move would help achieve the strategic goals stated by Donald Trump or change the course of the war.

The standoff with Iran has turned into a serious crisis for Trump: during his campaign, he promised to end the “endless wars” and focus on domestic issues. The war has led to a sharp rise in energy prices and is extremely unpopular among Americans. However, Trump is not fond of proposals from a number of allies to simply withdraw troops: in his view, that would look like a defeat.

According to one of CNN’s sources, Trump has instructed the military to develop additional options for strikes against Iranian targets, including “numerous energy infrastructure facilities,” as well as the possible use of the MOAB. According to the source, the Pentagon has stated that the strike must be carried out before U.S. troops are withdrawn from the area of responsibility of Central Command, which oversees operations in the Middle East. This may mean that the Trump administration intends to carry out the strikes, declare victory, and quickly leave the region.

Another informed source reported that plans for strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities also call for the use of the MOAB.