Oct 15, Kathmandu - U.S. officials are considering using the massive MOAB bomb if military action against Iran resumes before or after the November 3 midterm elections, according to reports.

Using the weapon for the first time in the ongoing conflict could further escalate the war, CNN reported. However, officials familiar with U.S. military planning have questioned whether deploying the bomb would advance Washington’s stated objectives or shift the balance of power.

Diplomatic efforts to end the conflict between Washington and Tehran are continuing, but tensions remain high. On October 8, President Donald Trump said the United States would not launch new strikes on Iran before the midterms while talks with Iranian officials continued. He left open the possibility of military action after the election.

The conflict has raised concerns about regional security and global energy supplies, particularly the safety of the Strait of Hormuz. Before the war, the vital waterway carried a significant share of the world’s oil shipments.

Weighing about 9,525 kilograms, the MOAB is the largest non-nuclear bomb in the U.S. arsenal. It is designed to destroy targets across a wide area.