Exclusive: U.S. Military's New Iran Contingency Plan Reveals Escalation Path
According to an exclusive CNN report on October 15, citing multiple U.S. officials familiar with the matter, the U.S. military has drafted a new strike plan targeting Iran. The plan is on standby and would be activated if the President orders a resumption of hostilities around the midterm election period.
Potential First-Ever Deployment of "MOAB"
A notable element of this plan is the potential inclusion of the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, colloquially known as the "Mother of All Bombs." Weighing approximately 21,000 pounds, it is the largest non-nuclear weapon in the U.S. arsenal, renowned for its vast blast radius and destructive power.
The reported primary targets for such a weapon are Iran's energy infrastructure and nuclear facilities. Striking these dual-purpose civilian and strategic sites is seen as an attempt to deliver a crippling blow to Iran's economic lifeline and its latent nuclear capabilities.
Strategic Doubts and Significant Escalation Risks
Despite the plan's existence, doubts persist within military and intelligence circles. Some analysts question whether the sheer physical destruction caused by such a bomb would effectively achieve the President's stated "decisive strategic objectives" or fundamentally alter the regional landscape.
Insiders familiar with military planning discussions stressed that executing this plan would mark the first-ever use of the GBU-43/B in a conflict with Iran. Such a move would unequivocally shatter the current threshold of confrontation, signaling a dramatic escalation in U.S. military action against Iran and potentially pushing both sides toward a more direct and wider conflict.
For now, the plan remains contingent. Its execution, timing, and specifics ultimately depend on orders from the highest level of decision-making and the evolving situation at the time.