The White House and Pentagon have prepared plans for possible use of a Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb against military sites in Iran if President Trump orders it. A Pentagon official said the department plans for a wide range of scenarios to carry out senior direction and seek mission success. No strike has been announced, and Trump said last week that the United States would not attack Iran before the midterm elections while describing conversations as productive. The MOAB is the largest U.S. non-nuclear weapon, weighs more than 30,000 pounds, and costs $170,000 per unit. Details about timing, targets, operational costs, and regional consequences have not been provided.
TLDR: Pentagon and White House planners have prepared a possible MOAB option for Iran, conditional on an order from President Trump. The report gives the weapon’s weight and unit cost but confirms no strike, schedule, or specific target.
The White House and Pentagon have prepared plans for using a Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb against military sites in Iran, according to sources familiar with the matter who spoke to CBS News. The plans would apply if President Donald Trump ordered a strike. The report describes a contingency, not an announced decision to use the weapon.
A Pentagon official said the Department of War plans for a wide range of operational scenarios so it can carry out presidential and secretary-level direction and seek mission success in any operational environment. That is the stated rationale for preparing options. The official did not provide details about a potential operation, and the report does not say that an order has been given.
The distinction between preparation and action is central. A prepared plan establishes that an option is under consideration, but it does not establish that the option will be selected. The White House and Pentagon have not announced a strike in the material available here. The reported target category is military sites in Iran, but no individual sites or timing are identified.
The report arrives alongside public comments from Trump about Iran. Last week, he said the United States would not attack Iran before the midterm elections. He also described conversations with Iran as “productive,” without offering specifics. Those statements do not resolve whether military action could occur later, and the reported planning does not by itself show that diplomacy has ended.
The Pentagon official’s explanation is practical and limited: plans are prepared for different operational scenarios so senior officials can direct action if they choose. Such preparation gives decision-makers an option while leaving the decision itself with the president and other senior officials. The public account does not describe what conditions would lead to a presidential order, how any order would be reviewed, or what role other agencies might have. Those details remain unreported rather than established parts of the plan.
The weapon, known as the MOAB, is also called the “mother of all bombs.” The report identifies it as the largest U.S. non-nuclear weapon and says it weighs more than 30,000 pounds. Its reported cost is $170,000 per unit. Those figures describe the weapon, not the total cost of a possible operation, which is not provided.
The MOAB has been used before. In 2017, it was used to attack an Islamic State cave complex in Afghanistan. That precedent establishes prior use, but it does not establish that the weapon would be used in Iran or that the circumstances would be the same. The current report concerns plans for possible use, not a repeat of the 2017 operation.
CNN first reported Thursday on plans involving the MOAB and Iran. CBS News reported that its account was based on sources familiar with the matter and included a statement from a Pentagon official. The excerpt does not identify the sources or provide additional operational documentation. It also does not disclose the number of weapons involved, any deployment schedule, or the estimated cost of preparing or carrying out a strike.
For the public, the concrete details are limited to the weapon’s weight and unit cost, the reported possibility of targeting military sites, and the condition that President Trump would have to order its use. No forms, public compliance steps, enforcement process, or deadline for a decision are described. The direct decision-makers named are the president and senior officials whose direction the Pentagon says it is prepared to execute; the report does not identify other groups directly affected by the planning. The account also leaves unanswered what regional consequences officials anticipate, so speculation about those consequences should not be mistaken for confirmed policy.
The report does not say that any public paperwork or compliance process would follow from these plans. It also provides no timeline for a decision, deployment, or strike. The stated unit price is the only cost figure given, and it cannot establish the expense of an operation. No enforcement steps or review process are described. These gaps mean the public account offers no basis for estimating practical costs beyond the weapon’s reported price or for saying when officials might act.
The story is identified as breaking news and may be updated. For now, the next necessary step is to distinguish any later official announcement or order from the contingency plans already reported. The Pentagon says it prepares for a range of scenarios to carry out senior direction and pursue mission success; further details and oversight remain part of the plan.
Sean Bradley serves as the Senior Correspondent for Trade, Supply Chains, and Global Labor at Just Right News, where he brings a principled, clear-eyed perspective to the complex systems that power the modern world. With a focus on the economic forces that impact the American household, Bradley has distinguished himself as a leading voice in explaining how global shifts in manufacturing and logistics translate to the kitchen table.
Growing up in Long Beach, California, Bradley’s interest in the movement of goods was forged against the backdrop of one of the nation’s most vital maritime gateways. Raised in a community where the towering cranes of the port were a constant fixture on the horizon, he developed an early appreciation for the blue-collar industries that form the backbone of the American economy. This upbringing instilled in him a profound respect for the dockworkers, truckers, and laborers who keep the country moving, a sentiment that remains a cornerstone of his reporting today. For Bradley, trade is not merely a series of abstract figures on a spreadsheet; it is a human endeavor that sustains families and defines the strength of a nation.
Now based in Seattle, Washington, Bradley occupies a strategic vantage point in another of the country’s most significant trade hubs. His location allows him to witness firsthand the intersection of traditional industry and the evolving technological landscape of global logistics. From the Pacific Northwest, he monitors the flow of goods across the ocean, providing Just Right News readers with timely insights into how international tensions, regulatory hurdles, and labor disputes affect the availability and cost of essential goods.
His signature feature series, “The Journey of Things,” has become a staple for readers seeking to understand the intricate path products take from raw materials to the retail shelf. Through this series, Bradley pulls back the curtain on the global marketplace, often highlighting the risks of over-reliance on foreign adversaries and the importance of domestic manufacturing resilience. His reporting consistently emphasizes the conservative values of national sovereignty, free-market competition, and the protection of the American worker from unfair global practices.
As a journalist of Irish heritage, Bradley maintains a deep-seated respect for the dignity of the individual worker and the importance of community stability. He approaches his beat with a commitment to transparency, often questioning the status quo of globalist policies that prioritize corporate efficiency over local prosperity. Whether he is reporting from a warehouse floor or analyzing a new international trade agreement, his goal remains the same: to provide the American public with the truth about where their products come from and what it costs to get them there.
Throughout his tenure at Just Right News, Bradley has remained a steadfast advocate for economic common sense. His work serves as a vital resource for those who believe that a strong nation is built on secure borders, robust trade, and a respected workforce. By combining his local roots in Long Beach with his professional experience in Seattle, Bradley continues to offer a unique and necessary perspective on the forces that shape the American way of life.