U.S. Military's New Iran Plan Exposed: "Mother of All Bombs" Eyed to Strike Energy and Nuclear Facilities
nashnova research
The U.S. military has for the first time included MOAB — its largest non-nuclear bomb — as an option in strike plans targeting Iran's energy infrastructure and nuclear sites, marking a significant escalation; whether Iran's energy facilities are ultimately hit is now a key variable for global oil supply.
What does this new strike plan actually target?
According to CNN, Trump has ordered the military to draw up additional strike plans against Iran, covering extensive energy infrastructure and nuclear facilities.
Nuclear targets include a site codenamed "Pickaxe Mountain," where the U.S. and Israel believe Iran stores components tied to its nuclear program.
The GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast — known as the "Mother of All Bombs," or MOAB, the largest non-nuclear bomb in the U.S. arsenal — has been explicitly listed as a strike option for the first time. This means → military planning has escalated from conventional airstrikes to putting a superweapon on the table.
Can the "Mother of All Bombs" actually penetrate the target?
MOAB weighs 21,600 pounds and has a blast radius covering roughly nine city blocks, yet multiple officials have questioned its real-world effectiveness.
The core problem: the bomb likely lacks the penetration depth to destroy "Pickaxe Mountain," which is believed to be reinforced by multiple layers of granite. In plain terms = MOAB is a surface-clearing weapon, not a bunker-buster — against a nuclear facility buried deep in granite, its power may not be enough.
A source familiar with military planning said: "MOAB is a massive information-warfare weapon, great for wide-area clearing, but absolutely not designed for deep penetration."
If it can't penetrate, why put it on the table at all?
Without munitions capable of reaching the required depth, MOAB's core value lies in psychological deterrence. A source told CNN: "Trump has put himself in a position where he almost has to do something — you have to consider the psychological effect, and MOAB is well-equipped for that."
This reflects a deeper dilemma: the U.S. acknowledges that the only way to decisively defeat Iran is a major ground operation, which could cost thousands of American casualties — and Trump has made clear he has little interest in that.
Put simply = there is no low-cost path to a real military victory, so a "looks powerful" option is needed to create pressure. MOAB functions more as a card at the negotiating table than a solution on the battlefield.
Where do diplomatic talks stand?
U.S.-Iran diplomacy has produced no substantive progress. Washington has proposed that Iran weaken its uranium-enrichment capability; Tehran has not responded, and mediator Qatar is still waiting for Iran's reply.
Trump's national security team held a hours-long closed-door meeting at Camp David to discuss whether to resume large-scale military operations against Iran.
The Pentagon has instructed Central Command to complete preparations for restarting major military action against Iran within days; related language suggests the U.S. may "declare victory and withdraw quickly" after striking. This means → the military is preparing a playbook for a symbolic victory followed by a fast exit.
What does this mean for global energy markets?
Whether Iran's energy facilities ultimately become strike targets is seen as the key variable that will determine the trajectory of global oil supply.
If energy infrastructure is hit, MOAB's massive blast radius near populated areas would raise serious concerns over civilian casualties, further intensifying the geopolitical risk premium.
Trump has publicly stated he will not take new action before the midterm elections, but multiple advisers privately say they cannot guarantee that position will hold. This signals that the timing window remains highly uncertain — markets need to price in the possibility of an unexpected escalation.
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