An article summarized by CNBC:

The U.S. military has reportedly developed plans for renewed strikes against Iran that could include the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb, known as the “mother of all bombs,” according to CNN, citing U.S. officials. The 21,600-pound non-nuclear weapon is designed to destroy or affect targets across a wide area and was previously used by the U.S. in Afghanistan in 2017. CNBC said it had not independently verified the report. President Donald Trump previously stated that he would not resume strikes before the November 3 midterm elections.

Tensions across the Middle East remain elevated following the sinking of a container ship in the Strait of Hormuz and deadly attacks on Saudi Arabia by Iran-backed Houthi forces. Iran is reportedly strengthening defenses around sensitive energy and nuclear facilities in anticipation of possible U.S. attacks. Meanwhile, the Trump administration faces growing domestic pressure to demonstrate progress in the conflict as rising energy prices and broader inflation concerns weigh on Americans ahead of the midterms.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Tehran would continue combining military defenses, negotiations and regional leverage to pressure Washington into accepting its demands. Those demands reportedly include lifting the U.S. naval blockade and sanctions and withdrawing American forces from the region. Ghalibaf said Iran does not want an endless war but aims to prevent its adversaries from achieving their objectives through military force, underscoring the continued risk of escalation despite ongoing diplomatic possibilities.

For the article: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/10/15/us-iran-war-trump-hormuz.html