CNN reveals Pentagon plans: The US military has reportedly prepared scenarios for renewed strikes against Iran, including the possible use of the GBU-43/B, known as the “Mother of All Bombs” (MOAB), weighing approximately 9.8 tons, to target Iranian energy facilities and nuclear sites if Trump decides to resume military operations.
A weapon of intimidation rather than decisive military effectiveness: Ironically, US military sources reportedly question the bomb’s effectiveness against Iran’s deeply buried and fortified facilities. The MOAB is designed to cause massive destruction on the surface, not penetrate deeply reinforced underground installations. Washington may therefore consider deploying it as a psychological weapon to pressure Tehran into making concessions.
Netanyahu fears Iranian retaliation: According to Israel’s Maariv newspaper, Netanyahu has reportedly expressed a preference for postponing any new military campaign against Iran until after the October 27 Israeli elections. Sources familiar with closed-door discussions suggest he fears that Iranian missile retaliation, casualties, and destruction inside Israel could seriously damage Likud’s chances of remaining in power.
Trump caught between war and the ballot box: With the November 3 US midterm elections approaching, Washington faces a strategic dilemma. Prolonging the conflict threatens American economic and political interests, while further military escalation offers no guarantee of forcing Iran into submission or securing concessions from Tehran.
Military and Geopolitical Assessment
The irony is striking: after months of bombardment, Washington is still searching for a military strike that Trump can present as a political victory, while Netanyahu fears that another confrontation could trigger a domestic crisis capable of bringing down his government.
This is not the image of overwhelming power. It is the reflection of a strategic predicament: possessing the ability to destroy does not necessarily mean possessing the ability to force an adversary into surrender.
From the perspective of the Axis of Resistance, Tehran’s refusal to abandon its positions despite mounting threats demonstrates the limitations of American and Israeli military intimidation.
And one question remains: If Washington and Tel Aviv are truly confident in their ability to win this war, why has the timing of their next confrontation become hostage to fears of Iranian missiles and election results?