Trump rules out nuclear weapons and ground troops in Iran conflict
In a Newsmax interview, President Trump said he would not use nuclear weapons against Iran and does not foresee deploying ground troops, amid reports of new strike plans.
At a glance
- Trump said he would not use nuclear weapons against Iran and does not foresee sending ground troops.
- He said the MOAB is not nuclear, without confirming or denying reports it might be used.
- CNN reported new US strike plans on Iranian energy and nuclear sites; shipping risks rise in Strait of Hormuz.
President Donald Trump said he will not use nuclear weapons against Iran and does not expect to send ground troops there, in an interview with Newsmax broadcast Thursday evening.
"I wouldn't use nuclear. We don't have to. We're the greatest nuclear power in the world," Trump said.
When asked about reports that Washington was considering using the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast, known as the "Mother of All Bombs" (MOAB), Trump said: "The mother of all bombs is not nuclear. It's not nuclear at all. This is just an extremely large bomb. It's like a tiny nuclear bomb. But the mother of all bombs is one big bomb, but it's not nuclear." He did not confirm or deny the reports.
Asked if he would put "troops on the ground," Trump replied: "No, I don't see that, I don't see it."
The MOAB is the largest non-nuclear bomb in the U.S. arsenal. It was used in combat in 2017 against ISIS militants in Afghanistan.
Earlier on Thursday, CNN reported that the U.S. military has developed new strike plans targeting Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear sites. The strikes could take place if Trump orders combat operations to resume, either before or after the midterm elections, the outlet reported. The White House did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment.
Trump said on Oct. 8 that he would not order a resumption of military strikes before the Nov. 3 midterm elections.
Meanwhile, merchant shipping through the Strait of Hormuz faces heightened risks after a series of attacks. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said the threat remains "severe" after the Singapore-registered container ship GFS Pride was struck by an unknown projectile, caught fire and later sank. UKMTO added that "deliberate hostile action" was highly likely and said it had recorded eight attacks in the waterway since Oct. 11.
Source: CNBC Top News.
Questions and answers
- What did Trump say about using nuclear weapons against Iran?
- Trump said he would not use nuclear weapons, stating "I wouldn't use nuclear. We don't have to. We're the greatest nuclear power in the world."
- What is the MOAB and is it nuclear?
- The MOAB is the largest non-nuclear bomb in the U.S. arsenal. Trump said it is "not nuclear at all" and described it as an extremely large bomb.
- What is happening in the Strait of Hormuz?
- The UKMTO said the threat remains "severe" after the Singapore-registered container ship GFS Pride was struck by an unknown projectile, caught fire and sank. Eight attacks have been recorded since Oct. 11.
