ARTICLE : THE MOTHER OF ALL BOMBS OR THE MOTHER OF ALL BLUFFS ? WASHINGTON IRAN STRATEGY MEETS THE LIMITS OF MILITARY POWER

What happened: Reporting says the Pentagon has weighed contingency plans to use the GBU-43/B MOAB, an air-blast bomb, against Iranian installations, prompting questions about what it would achieve beyond prior US and Israeli strikes. Key numbers: MOAB weighs about 21,600 pounds with roughly 18,700 pounds of explosive, about eleven tons of TNT Why it matters: The piece argues the MOAB was not designed to penetrate deep rock, so it may not destroy buried nuclear chambers. It notes that even GBU-57 strikes in June 2025 left questions about damage and Iran's ability to restore its program. Coverage: 7 outlets in 24h

Reporting says the Pentagon has weighed contingency plans to use the GBU-43/B MOAB, an air-blast bomb, against Iranian installations, prompting questions about what it would achieve beyond prior US and Israeli strikes.

The piece argues the MOAB was not designed to penetrate deep rock, so it may not destroy buried nuclear chambers. It notes that even GBU-57 strikes in June 2025 left questions about damage and Iran's ability to restore its program.