US Weighs Using GBU-43 ‘Mother of All Bombs’ Against Iran
The US is reportedly weighing the use of the GBU-43, known as the Mother of All Bombs, against Iran. Here is what the weapon can do.
The United States military is reportedly considering using the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB), popularly known as the “Mother of All Bombs,” in it’s future strikes against Iran. According to a CNN report cited by Reuters on October 15, 2026, the proposed plans could involve targeting Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear-related sites if Donald Trump orders renewed military operations.
The report does not necessarily mean an attack has been authorised. US officials are reportedly still weighing their options, while questions remain on whether the weapon would achieve the intended military objectives, particularly against heavily fortified underground facilities in Iran.
What Is the GBU-43 ‘Mother of All Bombs’?
The GBU-43/B is a GPS-guided, non-nuclear weapon weighing ~9.8 tonnes and designed to produce enormous blast across a wide area. The US first used it in combat in April 2017, when it was dropped on an Islamic State tunnel complex in Afghanistan. Although the bomb can cause extensive surface damage, experts have questioned whether it could penetrate deeply enough to destroy Iran’s heavily protected underground nuclear facilities.
