The White House and Pentagon have prepared plans for a possible MOAB strike on military sites in Iran, if President Trump gives the order. A Pentagon official said the Department of War plans for a wide range of scenarios to carry out presidential and secretary-level direction and ensure mission success. The planning is not evidence that an attack has been decided. Trump said last week that the United States would not attack Iran before the midterm elections and described conversations with Iran as productive, without giving details. The MOAB is the largest U.S. non-nuclear weapon, weighs more than 30,000 pounds, and costs $170,000 per unit. No operational deadline, approval process, or additional compliance requirements were reported.
TLDR: Military planners have developed a possible MOAB option for Iran, but the plan would require an order from President Trump. The administration has also said it plans across a wide range of scenarios, while Trump has cited productive conversations and said there would be no attack before the midterm elections.
The White House and Pentagon have prepared plans for a possible use of the 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 take effect only if President Donald Trump ordered an attack. Their preparation does not mean an attack has been decided.
A Pentagon official said the department plans for a wide range of scenarios so it can carry out direction from the president and the secretary of defense. That is the official rationale for preparing options. The official did not say that the president had approved a plan to use the bomb, or that military action was imminent.
The report also leaves important questions unanswered. It does not identify the sites that might be considered, explain how a target would be selected, or provide a timeline for any decision. It does not say whether the plans involve a particular aircraft or how the weapon would be delivered. The sources described planning, not an order to act.
Trump said last week that the United States would not attack Iran before the midterm elections. He also described conversations with Iran as productive, but offered no details about those discussions. Those public remarks provide context for the reported plans, but do not resolve what the administration might do later. The report does not say that the plans have changed or that the president has made a decision since those comments.
The weapon, commonly called the MOAB, is the largest non-nuclear weapon in the U.S. arsenal. It weighs more than 30,000 pounds and costs $170,000 per unit, according to the information reported. Its size and cost make it distinct from smaller weapons, but the available account does not describe what effects its use would have at any particular site. It also does not say how many bombs, if any, are included in the planning.
The nickname “mother of all bombs” is widely used for the weapon, but the report does not establish that the administration has chosen it for a mission. A plan can identify an option without making that option the preferred choice. In this case, the public details show that the Pentagon has prepared for a possible order, while leaving the decision itself with the president.
That distinction matters because military planning and presidential authorization are separate steps. The existence of a plan does not show that an attack has been scheduled, that forces have been directed to carry it out, or that diplomatic efforts have ended. None of those developments is confirmed in the report. The Pentagon official’s explanation instead describes planning as preparation for a range of possible directions.
The practical details are also limited. The reported unit cost is $170,000, but the account does not say whether that figure includes transport, aircraft operations, or other costs associated with a mission. It provides no information about procurement, the number of weapons available, or any additional paperwork and approval steps. It also gives no operational deadline. Those gaps mean the reported price alone cannot show what a possible operation would cost or how quickly it could be carried out.
The report does not specify any further approval process beyond the need for an order from Trump. It is therefore not possible from the available information to say what reviews, consultations, or timelines would apply before a use of the weapon. Nor does the report describe how officials would weigh military objectives against other consequences. Those are unresolved questions, not details established by the planning itself.
For now, the central point is narrow: sources told CBS News that the White House and Pentagon have prepared an option involving the MOAB, while the Pentagon says it plans for a wide range of scenarios. Trump has said the United States would not attack Iran before the midterm elections and has called discussions with Iran productive. The report does not show that an attack has been authorized. Any further decision, timing, or operational detail remains unclear.
Olivia Kendall serves as the Senior Correspondent for Geopolitics, Defense, and Foreign Policy at Just Right News, where she provides a principled, conservative perspective on the complex forces shaping the global stage. With a career dedicated to deconstructing the intricacies of international relations, Kendall has become a trusted voice for readers who value national sovereignty, a robust military, and a foreign policy that prioritizes American interests above all else.
A native of Washington, D.C., Kendall’s professional journey is deeply rooted in her upbringing within the nation’s capital. Growing up in the epicenter of American political life, she developed an early and profound understanding of how policy is crafted and, more importantly, how it often fails to account for the values of the American heartland. This unique vantage point allowed her to witness firsthand the rise of globalist bureaucracies, fueling her commitment to reporting that champions the constitutional foundations of the United States. Her background as a British White American further informs her worldview, providing her with a keen appreciation for the Western tradition and the enduring importance of the “Special Relationship” in maintaining global stability.
Now based in Arlington, Virginia, Kendall operates from the doorstep of the Pentagon and the heart of the nation’s defense establishment. Her proximity to the decision-makers in the military and intelligence communities allows her to provide boots-on-the-ground reporting that is both timely and deeply informed. For Kendall, Arlington is more than just a base of operations; it is a daily reminder of the sacrifices made by the men and women in uniform. This connection to the defense community drives her rigorous coverage of military readiness and her advocacy for a “peace through strength” approach to diplomacy.
At Just Right News, Kendall is perhaps best known for her acclaimed feature series, “The World’s Shadow on America.” In this ongoing project, she explores the direct correlation between international developments and the daily lives of American citizens. Whether she is analyzing the encroachment of foreign adversaries in domestic supply chains or the impact of international treaties on local economies, Kendall’s work serves as a vital bridge between distant geopolitical shifts and their consequences at home. She rejects the notion that foreign policy is an abstract concern for elites, instead proving that what happens in the corridors of power in Brussels or Beijing has a tangible “shadow” that falls across every American doorstep.
Throughout her tenure, Kendall has remained a steadfast critic of international overreach and a vocal proponent of a clear-eyed, realistic foreign policy. She brings a sharp analytical mind to her beat, often challenging the prevailing narratives of the mainstream media to uncover the underlying truths that affect national security. Her reporting is characterized by a refusal to compromise on the truth and a dedication to the idea that a strong, secure America is the world’s best hope for liberty. As a Senior Correspondent, Olivia Kendall continues to lead the charge in providing the essential context and conservative insight necessary to navigate an increasingly volatile world.