Threat of MOAB, strategic signaling to manage crisis
By Delaram Ahmadi
Staff writer
The threat to use the so-called “Mother of All Bombs” (MOAB) has been raised repeatedly by US officials in recent weeks. In an interview with Iran Daily, international affairs expert Hossein Ajorlou said the threat is an attempt to manage the crisis through strategic signaling, i.e. sending messages to multiple actors to shape their calculations. He added that normalizing threats involving weapons of mass destruction and intensifying the arms race would be among the consequences.
IRAN DAILY: How seriously should the US threat be taken? Are such statements a sign of possible military escalation, or part of Washington’s psychological and media warfare?
AJORLOU: The US threat to use MOAB or even a tactical nuclear weapon, should be viewed on two levels simultaneously. The first is psychological and media warfare, while the second involves preparations for a limited operation.
With its current military logistics in the region, the US cannot achieve a strategic victory in a war with Iran through military means. Trump is therefore compelled to focus on applying comprehensive pressure, tightening the blockade and threatening further escalation. Israel’s role as the principal driver of the war should not be overlooked either. Israel plays an active part in drawing up plans for joint strikes and is also exerting pressure on Washington’s decision-making process. Reports of operational drills conducted by Israel and the US near Iran’s borders indicate that the threat is not merely verbal. The deployment of the Roosevelt and new US-Israeli plans for further joint strikes have elevated the threat from statements to operational preparations. This raises the possibility of limited and controlled use of such a weapon against specific facilities.
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