US, Israel Plan Fresh Iran Strikes; Tehran Warns of New Weapon

Tehran: The United States and Israel have drawn up plans for fresh military strikes on Iran after the American midterm elections, while Tehran has threatened to unveil a new weapon it calls the “father of all bombs,” The New York Times reported.

According to the report, the two militaries have developed plans for a short but intensive operation aimed at Iran’s energy infrastructure, nuclear facilities and its missile and drone arsenal. US War Secretary Pete Hegseth met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel this week to discuss the possibility. Some US officials believe another round of attacks could push Iran’s economy to the brink and force diplomatic concessions after nearly eight months of conflict, since the two countries went to war on February 28. It remains uncertain whether President Donald Trump will approve strikes, though US forces are reportedly being reinforced, and Israel’s election on October 27 could complicate the timing.

The report follows earlier accounts that Trump has considered using the 9,800-kilogram GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, known as the “Mother of All Bombs,” against Iran’s deeply buried Pickaxe Mountain nuclear site.

On Wednesday, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps spokesperson Hossein Mohebi said Iran was preparing to unveil a weapon it calls the “father of all bombs,” describing it as something new for its adversaries. He gave no details of the weapon, and Iran has not clarified what the threat means.

Iran has warned it will respond to any renewed attack. Mahdi Mohammadi, an adviser to negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, rejected the idea of a swift end to renewed hostilities.