US weighs using 'mother of all bombs' on Iran as Tehran vows defiance

United States military planners have drawn up strike options against Iranian nuclear and energy facilities that include the potential deployment of the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, the largest non-nuclear munition in the American arsenal.

The strike proposals, first reported by CNN citing defence officials, place the 21,600-pound weapon in consideration should President Donald Trump order a resumption of combat operations against Tehran. Iranian targets examined in planning include energy infrastructure and Pickaxe Mountain, a fortified site suspected by Washington and Tel Aviv of housing key nuclear development equipment.

The United States Department of Defense said it routinely prepares operational plans across diverse scenarios to carry out executive directives. Trump previously stated he would not order fresh military strikes prior to the congressional midterm elections scheduled for 3 November.

What is the weapon and how would it be used?

Known colloquially as the "mother of all bombs" or MOAB, the GPS-guided weapon detonates in the air rather than drilling into the earth. It was developed during the Iraq War and deployed in combat only once, when American forces struck Islamic State tunnel networks in eastern Afghanistan in April 2017 during Trump's first presidency. Afghan authorities said that strike killed 36 militants without documented civilian casualties.

Because the weapon detonates above the surface, military specialists have questioned whether it can penetrate subterranean installations shielded by granite, such as Pickaxe Mountain. While its blast wave can level structures across roughly nine city blocks, destroying exposed surface equipment and energy terminals, deep bunker neutralisation typically requires specialised ground-penetrating penetrators rather than wide-area airburst ordnance.

Tehran vows resistance

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf rejected American pressure in a televised address, stating Tehran will combine defensive operations, diplomatic engagement, and regional leverage to counter foreign forces. Ghalibaf insisted Iran does not seek permanent conflict, but intends to deny Washington its strategic aims until American naval blockades and economic sanctions are dismantled.

Strategic implications for India

The prospect of escalated strikes against Iranian energy assets brings immediate ramifications for West Asian stability and maritime transit. For New Delhi, securing regional shipping lanes and preserving stability across the Persian Gulf remain paramount diplomatic priorities. India maintains close strategic partnerships across the Gulf and continues to advocate for de-escalation, sustained dialogue, and unimpeded commerce, protecting vital national energy supply chains while navigating major-power tensions.