Separately on Saturday, Iran's acting Defense Minister Majid Ebnolreza dismissed reports that the Pentagon drafted plans to use the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, or "Mother of All Bombs," saying a weapon's size or designation does not matter because Tehran's missile power has "changed the equation." Iranian military executive deputy Alireza Sheikh also responded to the reports on Saturday by saying "the Iranian people are the father of all bombs."
The Iranian statements follow Thursday reports from CNN and CBS News that the White House and Pentagon prepared strike options using the 21,600 pound MOAB against Iranian military sites, energy infrastructure and the deeply buried Pickaxe Mountain complex before or after the November 3 midterm elections. Trump told Newsmax on Thursday that the non-nuclear weapon is "like a tiny nuclear bomb" and said the US "may have to go to Pickaxe Mountain," while ruling out nuclear weapons or ground troops in Iran.