IRGC to unveil father of all bombs amid US strikes plan
Middle East tensions escalated as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced preparations to unveil a “father of all bombs” weapon, while the United States and Israel prepared potential military strikes, wallstreetcn.com reported.
Assessing Tehran's Strategic Position
Mojtaba met with Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on October 21, according to CCTV, to evaluate the regional situation stemming from military actions by the United States and Israel. Former First Vice President and current advisor Mohammad Mokhber revealed that late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had previously directed military commanders to bring their formal requests to Mojtaba during his final months in power.
The political friction remains high. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated on October 21, that direct negotiations with Washington remain meaningless while threats and pressure continue. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi added that indirect talks via intermediaries regarding a proposed seven-day ceasefire from September had been rejected outright by Donald Trump, with Washington seeking additional terms.
Military Preparations and the “Father of All Bombs” Announcement
On October 21, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps spokesperson Hossein Mohebbi announced that the military is preparing to introduce a weapon designated as the “father of all bombs,” serving as a counter to the United States’ use of the “mother of all bombs.” Mohebbi provided no technical specifics for the new device. CNN reported on October 15, that US military planners have evaluated deploying the “mother of all bombs” against nuclear sites. Trump declined to confirm or deny the plan while emphasizing that the weapon is a conventional explosive rather than a nuclear device.
The geopolitical friction rippled through global commodities markets. Brent crude futures surged past 3% following reports of the planned US-Israeli operations, with US oil benchmarks approaching $100 per barrel, wallstreetcn.com reported.
Planning New Strikes and the Risk to Regional Infrastructure
The New York Times reported that American and Israeli military leadership have mapped out a concentrated, high-intensity strike package targeting Iranian energy infrastructure, nuclear installations, and missile and drone arsenals to commence after the US midterm elections. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth discussed these options with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a visit to Israel. Financial Times sources noted that Israel initially sought a multi-day bombing campaign for the weekend of October 10, but the timing was constrained by Washington’s opposition to starting a major conflict prior to the midterms.
To back up these operational plans, the United States deployed the USS Roosevelt carrier strike group and the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit to the region, adding roughly 10,000 troops, according to US reports on October 20. This adds to the USS Bush and USS Washington carriers already on station.
In response to the buildup, Yadollah Javani, the political deputy to the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, warned that if Iranian infrastructure is attacked, retaliation could extend to critical communications assets. Javani specifically named the submarine internet cables traversing the Strait of Hormuz and assets tied to American allies in the region as potential targets designed to maximize deterrence against a renewed offensive.