We Will Not Use Nuclear Weapons Against Iran: President Trump

US President Donald Trump says Washington will not use nuclear weapons against Iran, arguing that conventional weapons are sufficient. His remarks come as US military planners reportedly prepare options for further strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear sites, including a powerful non-nuclear bomb.

Trump made the comments in an interview with Newsmax on Thursday. He also said he did not expect to deploy American ground troops inside Iran.

“I wouldn’t use nuclear, we don’t have to,” Trump said. He described the “Mother of All Bombs” as a powerful conventional weapon, not a nuclear bomb.

US Considers ‘Mother of All Bombs’

Trump’s remarks followed reports that the US military had developed plans for possible renewed attacks on Iran. These options could include the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, commonly known as the MOAB, against Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear facilities.

The MOAB is the largest non-nuclear bomb in the US arsenal. It weighs about 9,800 kilograms and carries approximately 8,500 kilograms of explosives. The US used it for the first time in Afghanistan in 2017 against an Islamic State-linked cave and tunnel complex.

However, military experts have questioned whether the weapon could destroy deeply buried Iranian nuclear facilities. The MOAB is designed to produce a powerful blast over a broad area, rather than penetrate deep underground. Its possible use against Iran has not been confirmed as a final military decision.

Trump Says US Discusses Nuclear Disarmament

Trump also said Washington was discussing nuclear disarmament with Russia and China. He expressed concern that China could expand its nuclear arsenal significantly over the next five years.

The comments come after the expiration of the New START treaty earlier in 2026. The agreement placed limits on deployed strategic nuclear weapons held by the United States and Russia.

Trump’s statements do not amount to a new arms-control agreement. Any future deal would require further negotiations between the countries involved.