Pentagon Prepares Potential New Strikes on Iran, Considers ‘Mother of All Bombs’; Trump Says Leakers Should Be Shot

*WASHINGTON, October 15, 2026:* The Pentagon has drawn up plans for potential new military strikes against Iran, including the possible use of the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB), widely known as the “Mother of All Bombs,” to target Iran’s energy infrastructure and nuclear facilities, CNN reported on Thursday, citing US officials.

The plans could be implemented if US President Donald Trump orders a resumption of military operations. However, the reported preparations do not mean that a final decision to launch new attacks has been made. Reuters also reported CNN’s account on October 15, while noting that it could not independently verify the report.

According to CNN, US military planners have developed several options for potential attacks on Iranian energy infrastructure and sites associated with the country’s nuclear programme. These reportedly include plans targeting underground nuclear facilities. The report also mentioned a site known as Pickaxe Mountain, where US and Israeli officials reportedly believe certain elements associated with Iran’s nuclear programme may be located.

The report said military planners have been preparing options for possible operations against Iran, including strikes intended to damage energy infrastructure and nuclear-related targets. A White House official told CNN that the administration does not comment on sensitive military planning that may or may not exist, while emphasising that President Trump wants to keep all options available to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

According to the report, questions remain within US military circles about the effectiveness of using the MOAB against deeply buried and heavily fortified nuclear facilities. Although the bomb can cause extensive destruction over a wide area, it is not generally considered the most effective weapon for penetrating deeply buried, hardened underground structures.

CNN’s report also discussed Pickaxe Mountain, where underground facilities are believed to be protected by multiple layers of granite. These geological features could limit the effectiveness of the MOAB, raising questions about whether its use would achieve the intended military objectives.

The report further suggested that US officials have been examining different military options intended to increase pressure on Tehran while potentially providing President Trump with a political basis for ending the conflict. However, it remains unclear whether such strikes would significantly undermine Iran’s military capabilities or nuclear programme. Trump Says Those Leaking Military Information Should Be Shot

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump made controversial remarks about people who leak sensitive government and military information to the media during a campaign rally in Bullhead City, Arizona, on October 14.

According to Al Jazeera, Trump said that, in his view, people responsible for leaking sensitive information should be shot. Referring to previous practices, he also suggested that individuals who disclosed the timing of military attacks used to face such punishment.

During his speech, Trump claimed that leaks concerning previous US military operations against Iran had forced changes to the timing of an operation. He criticised American media organisations, particularly The New York Times and CNN, arguing that disclosures about military movements and operational timing could endanger the lives of service members.

These allegations were reported as Trump’s claims; the cited coverage did not independently establish that the leaks had caused the operational changes he described.

Trump’s remarks have also been linked to Operation Midnight Hammer, the US military operation against Iranian nuclear facilities in June 2025. According to Al Jazeera, preliminary assessments of the damage caused by that operation subsequently became the subject of media reports, prompting questions about the extent of the damage to Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. Potential Implications for Regional Security

The reported Pentagon planning and Trump’s remarks underscore the continuing tensions between Washington and Tehran. If the US president authorises the proposed operations, strikes against Iran’s energy infrastructure and nuclear-related facilities could further escalate the confrontation and increase the risk of retaliatory action.

Attacks on energy infrastructure and facilities located near populated areas could also raise concerns about civilian casualties, damage to essential services and wider regional instability.

Nevertheless, the distinction between military planning and an authorised operation remains critical. *The CNN report describes potential military options; it does not establish that President Trump has approved a new attack or that another US military campaign against Iran has begun.* Reuters reported CNN’s account while noting that it could not independently verify the information.