US Considers Using ‘Mother of All Bombs’ in Iran; Tensions Rise

The United States is considering the use of the ‘Mother of All Bombs’—a powerful non-nuclear weapon—in potential new strikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities and energy infrastructure. Citing US officials, CNN reported that this weapon could be deployed should President Donald Trump order the resumption of military operations.
According to a report published on Thursday (October 15), the US military has prepared several options for striking key Iranian sites, including plans to use high-yield bombs against the country’s nuclear and energy infrastructure.

Specifically, a suspected underground nuclear facility located within Iran’s Kuh-e Pīk-aks (Pik-aks Mountain) is being considered as a potential target. Both the United States and Israel believe that critical equipment for Iran’s nuclear program is stored there.
However, despite its immense destructive power, military experts remain skeptical about how effective the ‘Mother of All Bombs’ would be in destroying deeply buried underground facilities.
The GPS-guided GBU-43/B bomb is capable of producing a massive explosion over a wide area; however, it is not specifically designed to penetrate deep into solid rock. Consequently, it may have limitations when it comes to destroying nuclear facilities protected beneath granite rock formations.
Furthermore, there is a significant risk of high civilian casualties if such a weapon were to be used near densely populated areas.
That said, there is no indication that President Trump has made a final decision regarding new strikes on Iran or the deployment of this particular bomb. For now, it remains merely one component of potential US military planning.