US weighs ‘mother of all bombs’ for Iran nuclear sites. Can it hit Pickaxe Mountain?

New Delhi: The United States is considering deploying its 21,600-pound “mother of all bombs” against Iran as the United States president, Donald Trump, searches for a way to end the war without appearing to have lost it. The proposed strikes could hit Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear sites, but the weapon’s ability to destroy facilities buried deep underground remains uncertain.

The Pentagon is exploring the use of the MOAB in a possible new strike against Iran, with energy facilities and the country’s underground nuclear infrastructure among the potential targets. CNN reported that military planners have included the GBU-43/B in options for striking the suspected nuclear site at Pickaxe Mountain. The development puts the heavily fortified site back in focus, following Trump’s earlier threats to target it. Washington and Israel suspect Iran has stored parts of its nuclear programme there, while the US had paused full-scale combat operations earlier this year.

Trump seeks an exit from the war

The discussions come as the November 3 midterm elections approach and the war faces growing opposition among American voters. Despite more than six months of US bombing, Washington and Tehran remain far from a negotiated settlement.

Trump has explored ways to present the conflict as a victory before withdrawing American forces. Although he has publicly indicated that he would not launch fresh strikes before the elections, advisers told CNN they were unsure whether that commitment was final.

One option reportedly involves striking Iranian energy infrastructure before US forces begin leaving the US central command area of responsibility. According to reports, officials have also discussed attacks intended to create a dramatic show of force, allowing Trump to claim success without necessarily achieving all his original war aims.

Can the MOAB reach Iran’s nuclear facilities?

The MOAB is the largest non-nuclear bomb in the US arsenal. Instead of digging into the earth, it blows up above the surface and gives a tremendous blast over a wide area.

Pickaxe Mountain is believed to be protected by thick layers of granite and other fortifications. According to reports, MOAB may not reach the most deeply buried parts of the suspected nuclear facility. The weapon could still cause extensive surface damage, but its use near populated areas could put civilians at risk. In reports, officials have questioned whether the resulting destruction would change Iran’s position or deliver a decisive military advantage.

The MOAB was developed during the Iraq War, partly for its psychological impact on enemy forces. It weighs around 21,600 pounds and was designed to destroy large areas, including formations of troops and equipment and hardened structures above ground.

Trump first used the bomb in combat in 2017, when he authorized a strike against an Islamic State tunnel network in Afghanistan. Afghan officials reported 36 fighters killed and three tunnels destroyed, along with weapons and ammunition. No civilian casualties were reported at the time.

A major ground operation could be required to decisively defeat Iran, but it could cost thousands of American lives. Trump has shown little interest in deploying US ground troops, and CNN reported that no administration official was advocating such an operation at the time.

The US military is preparing for possible Iranian retaliation if fresh strikes are authorized. The next rotation of American troops in the Centcom region is expected within weeks, although some departing personnel may not be replaced.

The White House declined to discuss the specific plans, saying Trump was keeping all options open to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. The Pentagon said it prepares for a range of operational scenarios to carry out presidential and defence leadership decisions.