WHITE HOUSE PREPARES PLANS TO USE MOTHER OF ALL BOMBS ON IRAN

What happened: CBS News reports the White House and Pentagon have prepared plans to use a Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb against military sites in Iran if President Trump orders it. CNN first reported the plans Thursday. Key numbers: The MOAB is the largest U.S. non-nuclear weapon, weighing upwards of 30,000 pounds at $170,000 per unit. It was used in 2017 in Afghanistan. Why it matters: Trump said last week the U.S. would not attack Iran before the midterm elections and cited productive conversations with Iran, though he has said the war could ramp back up without a satisfactory agreement. Coverage: 8 outlets in 24h

White House plans to use Mother of All Bombs on Iran signals major escalation.

White House plans to use Mother of All Bombs on Iran signals major escalation. — impact context not separately stored; see What changed.