Trump would even deploy the "mother of all bombs" against Iran

The U.S. military has drawn up new attack plans against Iran that include the possible use of the GBU-43/B MOAB, the most powerful non-nuclear American bomb, known as the "mother of all bombs."

CNN, citing several U.S. officials familiar with the planning, reports that the bomb could be used against Iranian energy infrastructure and certain nuclear facilities if Donald Trump orders the resumption of operations before or after the November midterm elections. According to one of the outlet's sources, Trump asked the military to prepare additional strike packages against a significant portion of Iran's energy infrastructure, including the use of the MOAB. The source described this as part of a scenario in which, after further strikes, the administration would declare victory and quickly withdraw American forces from the operational area. According to another source, plans targeting Iranian nuclear sites also include the MOAB, among them a facility known as Pickaxe Mountain, where the United States and Israel believe elements of Iran's nuclear program may be located.

According to CNN, several officials doubt that the roughly 9,800-kilogram, GPS-guided bomb could penetrate deep enough to destroy underground facilities located beneath layers of granite. The MOAB detonates before hitting the ground and generates a massive shockwave over a huge area, but it was not designed for deep penetration. One source familiar with the planning called it a "massive information operations weapon," excellent for clearing large areas but not much else. Several U.S. officials said the bomb would more likely be used for its psychological effect, and one Pentagon source called some of the versions under consideration "fireworks," which could offer Trump a way out of the conflict even if it does not achieve the war's stated goals. According to the outlet, after more than six months of American bombing, there is little sign that Washington and Tehran are close to a deal, and the war is becoming increasingly unpopular among Americans. Trump has publicly stated that he will not order new strikes before the midterm elections, but even his advisers do not know whether this is final. The White House did not comment on the operational scenarios, saying only that the president is keeping every option open to ensure Iran can never acquire nuclear weapons. Trump was the first American president to use the MOAB in combat: in April 2017 it was dropped on an Islamic State tunnel system in Afghanistan, killing 36 fighters, according to Afghan authorities.

Meanwhile, violence is also escalating on other fronts in the region. The Saudi Arabia-led coalition announced on Thursday that Yemen's Houthi rebels have attacked Riyadh's international airport twenty times since early October, killing seventeen people in the attacks. Coalition spokesman Turki al-Malki demanded that the Houthis immediately end their "terrorist operations" against civilians and civilian facilities, particularly airports, ports and oil industry installations. According to al-Malki, regional actors have helped the Houthis acquire advanced technologies, and the rebels now possess ballistic missiles, attack and suicide drones, as well as fast boats laden with explosives. The spokesman did not name which regional actors he meant, but by process of elimination, Iran would be the likely candidate.

Ugar