US considering use of ‘mother of all bombs’ against Iran — Pajhwok

KABUL (Pajhwok): The US military has developed plans that could involve using the “Mother of All Bombs” against Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear sites if President Donald Trump orders a resumption of combat operations, CNN reported. Citing several US officials familiar with the military planning, CNN said the options included deploying the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB), the largest non-nuclear bomb in the US arsenal. The plans reportedly cover potential strikes before or after the US midterm elections. However, CNN said Trump had publicly indicated that he would not take new military action before the elections, while some of his advisers privately questioned whether that position was final. Using the bomb in the conflict with Iran would mark a significant escalation, although officials familiar with the planning expressed doubts about its effectiveness in achieving Washington’s strategic objectives or changing the course of the war. According to CNN, the military’s options include strikes against Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear-related sites, including Pickaxe Mountain, a suspected underground facility where the US and Israel believe Iran has stored components of its nuclear programme. However, officials questioned whether the MOAB could penetrate deeply enough to destroy heavily fortified underground facilities protected by layers of granite. The GPS-guided weapon can devastate an area equivalent to about nine city blocks, but it is designed to…