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Donald Trump discusses potential use of MOAB against Iran
U.S. President Donald Trump has addressed reports regarding the potential deployment of the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) bomb against targets in Iran. In an interview with Newsmax, Trump explicitly ruled out the use of nuclear weapons, stating, “I wouldn't use nuclear weapons. We don't have to.” However, he did not deny reports that the military is considering the MOAB, describing it as “just an extremely large bomb” and clarifying that it is not nuclear.
Reports indicate that the Pentagon has drafted strike options targeting Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear facilities. A specific potential target mentioned is the Pickaxe Mountain complex near Natanz, which is believed to house underground nuclear sites.
Military experts have raised questions regarding the effectiveness of the MOAB against such targets. While the weapon is designed to create massive pressure waves and heat to destroy surface structures and cave mouths, its ability to penetrate deep underground bunkers remains a subject of debate. The MOAB weighs approximately 10 tons and was previously used in Afghanistan in 2017.
Entities
CENTCOM · Donald Trump · Iran · Pentagon · Pickaxe Mountain · United States
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] The MOAB was used in Afghanistan in 2017 against ISIS-Khorasan. www.upreg.fr · www.dagbladet.no
- [● 3 SOURCES] Donald Trump explicitly ruled out the use of nuclear weapons against Iran. baolaocai.vn · www.danas.rs · www.dagbladet.no
- [● 6 SOURCES] The U.S. military is considering the use of the GBU-43/B MOAB bomb against Iran. www.agenciacomunas.com.ar · alethonews.com · dziennik-polityczny.com · neokohn.hu · www.upreg.fr · +1 more
- [● 5 SOURCES] Potential targets include Iranian energy infrastructure and the Pickaxe Mountain complex. alethonews.com · dziennik-polityczny.com · neokohn.hu · www.upreg.fr · www.dagbladet.no
- [● 4 SOURCES] The MOAB bomb weighs approximately 10 tons. alethonews.com · porelojodelacerradura.com.do · www.upreg.fr · www.dagbladet.no
- [● 3 SOURCES] The MOAB is a GPS-guided thermobaric weapon. alethonews.com · porelojodelacerradura.com.do · www.upreg.fr