Washington: US President Donald Trump is reportedly considering the use of the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB), widely known as the ‘Mother of All Bombs’, amid the ongoing conflict with Iran. Potential targets include key Iranian military installations and energy infrastructure, although no final decision on deploying the weapon has been confirmed.
Reports have highlighted the possibility of targeting underground tunnels and nuclear-related facilities beneath Pickaxe Mountain, near Iran’s Natanz uranium enrichment complex. Located around 225 km south of Tehran, the Natanz facility is a key part of Iran’s nuclear programme.
Weighing approximately 9,800 kg, the MOAB is the largest conventional, non-nuclear bomb in the US military’s arsenal by explosive yield. It is designed to detonate above the ground, generating a powerful blast wave. The US used the weapon in Afghanistan in 2017 against an Islamic State militant tunnel complex.
However, the MOAB is not specifically designed to penetrate deep underground bunkers. This raises questions about its effectiveness against facilities buried beneath Pickaxe Mountain, where Iran is believed to have constructed underground infrastructure to protect sensitive nuclear equipment and centrifuges.
The US also possesses the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), a specialised bunker-busting weapon designed to penetrate hardened targets before detonating. Its capabilities differ significantly from those of the MOAB.
According to a CNN report, Trump has directed the Pentagon to prepare a list of critical military and energy targets in Iran. Washington is reportedly considering a strategy aimed at delivering a decisive blow before declaring victory and withdrawing its forces, amid the approaching US midterm elections.
Trump had previously warned Iran against crossing what he described as red lines, saying Washington was monitoring developments at Pickaxe Mountain and would respond forcefully if necessary.
The possibility of US strikes against Iran’s underground nuclear infrastructure has renewed questions about the weapons Washington could deploy and whether conventional bombs would be capable of destroying deeply buried facilities.
