The Pentagon has drawn up new strike plans that could see the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb — the largest non-nuclear weapon in the American arsenal — used against Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear sites if Donald Trump orders combat operations to resume, according to reports citing US officials.
A first combat use of the so-called “mother of all bombs” in the conflict with Iran would mark a sharp escalation, even though military planners are reported to question whether the weapon would achieve Washington’s strategic objectives. The plans come as the president faces mounting pressure to bring an end to a deeply unpopular conflict ahead of next month’s midterm elections, with little sign the two countries are close to a negotiated settlement after more than six months of American bombing.
Doubts over what the weapon would achieve
According to the reports, officials familiar with the internal discussions say there are serious doubts over how effective the munition would be in delivering any of Trump’s stated objectives or tipping the balance of the war. For months, the president and his advisers have discussed options that could act as a “definitive” end to the conflict, at least in messaging terms, aware of how unpopular the fighting has become among Americans.
The planning debate sits alongside a wider escalation across the Middle East. GlobeNews9’s earlier coverage of the regional fallout tracked how Saudi Arabia struck back after Houthi attacks shut Riyadh airport, while Washington and its partners have struggled to secure ceasefires elsewhere — as seen in Trump’s announced but unconfirmed Russia-Ukraine energy ceasefire.
Shipping lanes under strain
The stakes are underlined by a surge in attacks on commercial shipping. Two vessels have sunk near the Strait of Hormuz in recent days after projectile strikes: the Singapore-flagged container ship GFS Pride, whose 21 crew members were evacuated safely, and the Antigua and Barbuda-flagged bulk carrier Cape Dao, which went down weeks after a September 23 attack that killed one crew member, according to maritime data reported this week. They are the second and third vessels lost since the conflict began in late February.
Iran says it is stepping up strikes in response to the American blockade of its ports and tougher sanctions introduced last month, a posture that has reduced oil flows through the waterway and lifted prices around the world — a headache for the White House with voters already anxious about the cost of living.
