«أم القنابل» على طاولة ترمب.. هل يستعد لضربة كبرى ضد إيران؟

The U.S. military is studying options to launch new strikes against Iran using the bomb known as "Mother of All Bombs," in a potential escalation that could target Iranian energy facilities and nuclear sites, should President Donald Trump decide to resume combat operations, according to U.S. officials familiar with military plans who spoke to CNN.

The potential plans include the use of the GBU-43/B bomb, known as "Mother of All Bombs," which is the largest non-nuclear bomb in the U.S. arsenal.

Its use against Iran for the first time since the outbreak of war would represent a significant military escalation, despite doubts about its ability to destroy deeply buried nuclear facilities or achieve the strategic objectives sought by Washington.

These moves come at a time when Trump is facing pressure to end a war that has limited popularity among Americans, coinciding with the approach of the midterm congressional elections, amid a lack of clear indicators of a near resolution to the ongoing confrontation that has lasted more than six months, according to the report.

Energy and Nuclear Facilities in the Crosshairs of U.S. Plans

According to one source familiar with military discussions, Trump has ordered the U.S. military to prepare additional packages of potential strikes against Iranian targets, including a large number of energy facilities, while considering the possibility of using the "Mother of All Bombs."

The source indicated that some of the options on the table could be executed before the withdrawal of U.S. forces from the area of responsibility of the U.S. Central Command, which could allow the administration to launch additional strikes and then announce victory and begin the withdrawal of forces from the region.

In a related context, another source reported that military plans related to targeting Iranian nuclear facilities explicitly include the use of the bomb itself, including the site known as Pickaxe Mountain.

Trump has repeatedly threatened to target this site, which the U.S. and Israel believe Iran has used to store components related to its nuclear program.

Despite the suspension of large-scale combat operations earlier this year, Trump continues to assert that his primary goal is to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

It remains unclear whether the U.S. president will approve the implementation of these plans, as final decisions regarding the resumption of military operations are subject to his discretion.

Can the "Mother of All Bombs" Destroy Hardened Nuclear Facilities?

Despite the bomb's massive destructive power, questions are raised within military circles about its effectiveness in targeting Iranian nuclear facilities located deep underground.

The bomb weighs about 21,600 pounds, or approximately 9.8 tons, and relies on a satellite-guided system, with its explosion capable of destroying a wide area equivalent to about nine city blocks. However, sources familiar with military planning have indicated that the bomb was primarily designed to create a massive explosion above ground, not to penetrate deep fortifications.

It is believed that the Pickaxe Mountain site is fortified with layers of granite, raising doubts about the "Mother of All Bombs'" ability to reach and destroy the facilities located within it.

One source familiar with military discussions stated that the bomb is a massive weapon suitable for destroying large areas, but it is not designed as a warhead for penetrating depths.

According to sources, the use of the bomb could cause massive destruction in the targeted area, but it may not achieve the desired impact on the hardened underground nuclear facilities.

Concerns About Civilian Casualties

Concerns related to the use of the "Mother of All Bombs" are not limited to its limited ability to penetrate fortifications, as its wide explosion radius could raise significant fears about civilian casualties, especially if used against energy facilities located near populated areas or non-military sites.

However, some insiders believe that Trump may view the bomb as a tool for psychological and military pressure on the Iranian leadership, given the stalled diplomatic efforts and Tehran's lack of clear willingness to accept U.S. demands.

These estimates suggest that the use of the weapon could provide Trump with an additional option to change the course of the confrontation, without necessarily having to resume comprehensive combat operations.

However, U.S. officials, according to the report, are skeptical that the use of the bomb alone would force Iran to surrender or achieve a decisive military victory.

Trump Seeks an Exit from the War

In recent weeks, White House advisors have held meetings to discuss options for dealing with Iran, amid efforts to find an exit that would allow Trump to announce a political or military gain that could be presented to the American public, without closing the door on reaching a diplomatic agreement.

Although some officials in the U.S. administration have described the war as practically settled, Trump has avoided declaring victory definitively, asserting that the U.S. has goals that have not yet been completed.

The U.S. president has also expressed reservations about calls for him to withdraw U.S. forces and exit the conflict, considering that ending the war in this manner could be interpreted as a defeat.

Trump had publicly stated that he would not take new military steps before the midterm elections, but several of his advisors acknowledged, according to the report, that they do not know whether this commitment is final or subject to change before the election date.

CNN reported from a source familiar with the situation that some of the military options being considered could serve as a show of force that would allow the U.S. president to declare an end to the confrontation, even if the strikes do not achieve all the objectives that Washington announced at the start of the war.

Meanwhile, U.S. forces are preparing for the possibility of an Iranian response if orders are given to resume attacks.

Will Trump Send Ground Troops to Iran?

The U.S. Department of Defense is considering multiple military scenarios, including operations that may require the involvement of ground forces, but the report indicated that there are currently no officials within the U.S. administration pushing for this more dangerous option.

Some officials and analysts believe that inflicting a decisive defeat on Iran may require a large ground operation, a scenario that could lead to thousands of American casualties.

While Trump has shown limited interest in sending ground troops into Iranian territory, he faces a political dilemma between the desire to end the war quickly and the lack of a diplomatic agreement that achieves this goal.

In this context, a White House official told CNN that the administration does not comment on sensitive military plans that may or may not exist, adding that Trump keeps all options open to ensure that Iran does not acquire a nuclear weapon.

For its part, a U.S. Department of Defense official stated that the department is planning a wide range of operational scenarios to implement the directives of the president and the Secretary of Defense and to ensure mission success under various circumstances.

The "Mother of All Bombs": A Weapon for Deterrence or Destruction?

The "Mother of All Bombs" was developed during the Iraq War and is designed to explode in the air before hitting the ground, allowing the blast wave to be distributed over a wide area.

During the final tests of the bomb in 2003, military officials stated that it was designed, among other objectives, for use in psychological operations, aimed at instilling fear in enemy forces and pushing them to surrender or refrain from fighting.

The proposed use of the weapon included targeting large concentrations of troops, equipment, and fortifications above ground, before the list of potential targets expanded to include underground sites in less solid terrain, such as caves and tunnels.

Trump had previously ordered the use of the bomb during his first term when U.S. forces targeted ISIS positions in Afghanistan in 2017.

At that time, Afghan authorities stated that the strike resulted in the deaths of 36 ISIS fighters and destroyed three underground tunnels, along with weapons and ammunition, without any civilian casualties according to U.S. and Afghan statements at that time.