Reports that President Donald Trump may consider deploying America’s most powerful non-nuclear weapon against Iran have raised fresh questions about how the ongoing conflict could unfold. The weapon, officially known as the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast, or MOAB, is widely nicknamed the “Mother of All Bombs.” Weighing more than 21,000 pounds and containing over 11 tons of explosives, it is designed to produce an enormous blast before reaching the ground. According to CNN, newly developed US military strike plans could include the weapon as one possible option for targeting Iranian infrastructure. However, its potential use would require authorization from Trump, and no final decision has been publicly confirmed.

Sources cited by CNN reportedly say Trump and his advisers have discussed ways to bring the conflict to a decisive conclusion as pressure grows to end the war. Potential targets mentioned in the reports include energy and nuclear-related facilities, although the details of any proposed operation remain uncertain. One source close to the situation suggested the administration faced a difficult position, arguing that the president might feel compelled to take further action. The MOAB was developed in 2003 and has been used in combat just once by the United States. In April 2017, during Trump’s first presidential term, American forces dropped the bomb on an ISIS tunnel complex in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar Province. US officials reported that the strike destroyed the targeted underground position and killed 36 militants. The operation also prompted questions about whether deploying such a powerful weapon was necessary. Since that strike, the MOAB has not been used in another combat operation. Whether it will be considered for action against Iran remains unclear, but any decision could carry serious military and geopolitical consequences.