Trump is considering unleashing the 'mother of all bombs' on Iranian nuclear sites as war pressure mounts

From the Newshound archive · first published 15 October 2026.

The Pentagon has drawn up strike plans that could involve deploying the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb — the largest non-nuclear weapon in the US arsenal, capable of flattening nine city blocks — against Iranian nuclear facilities and energy infrastructure. Trump is reportedly seeking a way to declare victory and exit the six-month conflict without looking defeated. The plans could be activated either side of November's midterm elections should Trump authorise a return to combat operations.

Military insiders warn the MOAB's spectacular blast may do little to force Tehran into submission, particularly against deeply buried underground sites.

Trump has publicly pledged no fresh strikes before the midterms, though some advisers harbour doubts behind closed doors about whether he will stick to that commitment.

Trump was the first president to deploy the MOAB in combat, ordering its use against ISIS positions in Afghanistan in 2017.