The U.S. is reportedly weighing renewed strikes on Iran, including use of the 21,600-pound GBU-43/B bomb, as Tehran says it will keep pressing its demands and defending key sites.
01Summary
- 01CNN reported on Thursday that the U.S. military has drawn up options for renewed strikes on Iran, including possible use of the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb.
- 02The 21,600-pound weapon is nicknamed the "mother of all bombs" and is designed to affect surface targets over a wide area.
- 03The bomb has not previously been used in strikes on targets inside Iran, but it was used in Afghanistan in 2017 during Donald Trump's first presidency.
- 04Donald Trump said last week he would not order a resumption of military strikes before the U.S. midterm elections on 3 November.
- 05Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Tehran must use military and defensive capabilities, negotiations and regional leverage to push the U.S. to accept its demands.
02Why it matters
The report points to a fresh escalation risk between the U.S. and Iran, with possible knock-on effects for oil, shipping and broader market sentiment. It also comes as higher energy costs are already feeding into prices for households and businesses.
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