The US is considering using its biggest non-nuclear bomb against Iran if President Donald Trump should decide to renew combat in the war that has hit a deadlock.
Ahead of November’s midterm elections, Trump is working to lift his weak approval ratings, as polls indicate that the unpopular war in Iran, along with the resulting fuel and other price increases, is damaging his Republican Party.
Since the summer, diplomatic attempts to bring an end to the conflict which began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran in February have been stuck.
However, officials have expressed doubts about how effective the bomb would be if used, especially regarding its capacity to destroy suspected underground nuclear sites within the Islamic Republic.
“The MOAB is a massive information operation-type weapon that is great for huge area clearance but not much else,” a source familiar with the plans told CNN.
“It is definitely not designed as a deep penetration warhead.”
The United States and Israel have stated that the war was needed to stop Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons—an aim Tehran has consistently denied pursuing.
Concerns also exist that such a massive weapon could cause civilian casualties.
In recent weeks, Washington has scaled back its military operations in favor of economic pressure.
In 2017, the US military in Afghanistan used the “MOAB” against Islamic State group hideouts in a network of tunnels and bunkers, killing over 90 militants.
