The US military has developed strike plans that could include using the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb, also known as the “mother of all bombs”, against Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear sites if President Donald Trump orders renewed combat operations, CNN has reported. The potential deployment of the largest non-nuclear bomb in the US arsenal would mark a significant escalation in the conflict, although officials familiar with military planning discussions told CNN questions remain over its effectiveness in achieving Washington’s strategic objectives. A source told CNN that military plans for striking Iranian nuclear sites, including Pickaxe Mountain also explicitly call for using the MOAB. In recent months, Trump has repeatedly threatened to strike Pickaxe, where the US and Israel believe Tehran has stored components of its nuclear programme. However CNN said there are questions around whether the MOAB would be an effective munition to use against Iran’s nuclear facilities and other sites that are located deep underground. Trump was the first US president to deploy the MOAB, during his first term when he ordered the military to use its most powerful non-nuclear bomb on ISIS positions in Afghanistan in 2017. The MOAB is an air blast-type warhead that explodes before hitting the ground to project a massive explosion from all sides and is the most powerful non-nuclear weapon in the US military arsenal. It was first developed during the 2003 Iraq war but not used in that conflict.
The US military has developed strike plans that could include using the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb, also known as the “mother of all bombs”, against Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear sites if President Donald Trump orders renewed combat operations, CNN has r…
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CNN reported that US officials have developed strike plans potentially incorporating the GBU-43/B against Iranian energy and nuclear targets should President Trump order renewed combat operations. While the report notes this would represent a significant escalation, the same sources indicated that uncertainties remain regarding the weapon's strategic effectiveness.
According to Paul Chichester, Director of Operations at the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), Russian and Chinese state actors, alongside North Korea and Iran, are increasingly employing AI to enhance the scale and persistence of cyber operations against the United Kingdom.
Chichester notes that this shift has transformed cyberattacks into a standard component of state intelligence, with AI augmenting the operational productivity of these threats. Concurrently, the UK is leveraging AI tools to strengthen its defensive capabilities against these evolving challenges.
CNN reported on Thursday that the US military has drafted strike plans for Iranian energy and nuclear sites, including the potential use of the GBU-43/B MOAB, should President Trump order a resumption of combat operations. While sources noted that officials doubt the weapon’s effectiveness against deeply buried targets like Pickaxe Mountain, the reports remain unconfirmed by the Pentagon.
On Sunday, President Donald Trump announced an "Energy Ceasefire" regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict via social media, a move that appears to have occurred without prior consultation between the parties. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated the proposal was unexpected but affirmed his readiness to accept it, while Russian President Vladimir Putin’s administration responded with attacks on Ukrainian power infrastructure.
Concurrently, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham met with Zelenskyy to reaffirm British support for Ukraine and urge other nations to increase their contributions.