The US military has developed strike options against Iranian energy and nuclear facilities, potentially utilizing the MOAB bomb if President Donald Trump grants approval. These plans specifically target fortified sites like Pickaxe Mountain near Natanz.
The 21,600-pound MOAB and the problem of granite
The GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast, commonly known as the MOAB, is the largest non-nuclear weapn in the American arsenal. Weighing approximately 21,600 pounds, the weapon is engineered to create a massive blast radius to clear large surface areas. However, as reported by Breitbart citing CNN, military officials have expressed skepticism regarding the weapon's utility against Iran's most secure sites.
The primary concern is that the MOAB is not a specialized bunker-buster. While it can devastate surface infrastructure, it lacks the penetration capabilities required to destroy facilities buried under hundreds of feet of granite. This technical limitation suggests a potential gap between the political desire for a "massive" response and the tactical reality of Iranian fortifications.
Targeting Pickaxe Mountain and Iranian energy grids
According to the report,the proposed strike plans include a heavy focus on Iranian energy infrastructure. Some officials envision these attacks occurring before a potential American military withdrawal from the region. by targeting the energy grid, the US military could theoretically cripple the operational capacity of the Iranian state.
A more specific and high-value target mentioned in the plans is Pickaxe Mountain, a heavily fortified underground complex located near Natanz. This site has long been a point of scrutiny for international intelligence agencies due to its role in Iran's nuclear ambitions. The US military's consideration of the MOAB for this specific location highlights the scale of the intended destruction, even if the weapon's ability to reach the deepest levels of the complex remains unproven.
From the 2017 Afghanistan strike to the November 3 midterms
The use of the MOAB would mark the first combat deployment of the weapon since April 2017, when the US military used it to destroy an Islamic State tunnel complex in Afghanistan. that operation took place during President Donald Trump's first administration, establishing a precedent for the use of the GBU-43/B in high-visibility, high-impact scenarios.
The current planning comes amid a volatile cycle of escalation that includes US and Israeli strikes in February. Despite the Pentagon's preparations, President Donald Trump has previously indicated that he would avoid renewed strikes before the November 3 midterm elections . This creates a strategic window where the threat of the MOAB serves as a deterrent while the US administration navigates domestic political timelines.
Whether the GBU-43/B can actually penetrate underground bunkers
A crittical open question remains: is the MOAB a strategic weapon or a psychological one? One source familiar with the plans told CNN that the MOAB is essentially an "information operation type weapon," meaning its value lies more in the image of its massive explosion than in its ability to neutralize deep-buried targets. This suggests that the Pentagon may be preparing a show of force rather than a surgical strike.
Furthermore, it remains unverified whether President Donald Trump has officially authorized these strikes or if the Pentagon is simply preparing a menu of options. while the White House maintains that all options are on the table to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, the actual trigger for such an escalation remains undefined. The report relies heavily on unnamed sources , and neither the White House nor the Pentagon has confirmed a specific timeline for deployment.
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