Politics
U.S. President Donald Trump has categorically ruled out using nuclear weapons against Iran or deploying ground troops there.
U.S. President Donald Trump has categorically ruled out using nuclear weapons against Iran or deploying ground troops there. However, according to U.S. media reports, Washington has prepared options for using the non-nuclear GBU-43/B MOAB, known as the “Mother of All Bombs,” to strike Iran’s nuclear and energy facilities. In an interview with Newsmax, Trump made it clear that he would not use nuclear weapons against Iran because the United States has no need to do so. In the interview, which aired on Thursday evening, Trump said he would not resort to nuclear weapons, noting that the United States is the world’s leading nuclear power.
Newsmax asked Trump about reports claiming that Washington was considering using the GBU-43/B MOAB, commonly known as the “Mother of All Bombs.” Without directly confirming or denying the report, Trump said the weapon was not nuclear but was an extremely large bomb that could feel comparable to a small nuclear weapon, although it was definitely not nuclear. The MOAB is the largest non-nuclear bomb in the U.S. arsenal. It was used in Afghanistan in 2017 during military operations against Islamic State (ISIS) militants.
When asked during the interview whether he would send American troops onto the battlefield, Trump gave a firm answer, saying he saw no possibility of doing so. According to a report by CNN, the U.S. military has developed new strike plans targeting Iran’s energy infrastructure and nuclear sites. These potential attacks could be carried out if Trump orders military operations to resume before or after the midterm elections. The White House did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment on the matter. Trump had stated on October 8 that he would not order military strikes to resume before the November 3 midterm elections.
Following a series of attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, commercial shipping passing through this strategically important waterway is facing serious risks. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has confirmed that the threat level in the Strait of Hormuz remains critical. A Singapore-flagged container ship, the GFS Pride, caught fire after being struck by an unidentified projectile and subsequently sank. According to UKMTO, deliberate hostile activity remains highly likely in this sensitive waterway. The agency has recorded a total of eight attacks in the area since October 11.
