US considers hitting Iran with 'Mother of All Bombs': CNN

The United States is contemplating utilizing its largest non-nuclear bomb, the MOAB, against Iran if President Trump opts to resume military operations in the ongoing stalemate, according to a Thursday report by CNN. The military is evaluating the potential use of the "Mother Of All Bombs" to strike Iranian energy facilities and nuclear sites, according to officials familiar with the situation.

President Trump is attempting to improve his sagging approval ratings ahead of November's midterm elections, as polls reveal that the unpopular war in Iran, coupled with the surge in fuel and other prices, is damaging his Republican Party. Diplomatic attempts to resolve the conflict, which began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran in February, have been stalemated since the summer.

However, some officials harbor doubts about the bomb's effectiveness, particularly its capacity to obliterate hidden nuclear installations in Iran. "The MOAB is a massive information operation weapon that is excellent for large-scale area clearance but not much else," a source familiar with the plans disclosed to CNN. "It is certainly not intended as a deep penetration warhead."

The US and Israel argue that the war is imperative to avert Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, a claim Tehran has consistently denied. There are also apprehensions regarding the likelihood of civilian casualties from such a powerful weapon. In recent weeks, Washington has shifted its focus from military actions to economic sanctions.

The Pentagon has not yet commented on the matter. In 2017, the US military in Afghanistan deployed the "MOAB" to target IS hideouts within a network of tunnels and bunkers, resulting in the death of over 90 militants.