WASHINGTON, USA: US President Donald Trump has ruled out using nuclear weapons against Iran and said he does not expect to deploy American ground troops in the country, amid reports that the US military is preparing options for renewed strikes against Iranian targets.
In an interview with Newsmax broadcast on Thursday evening, Trump said the United States would not need to resort to nuclear weapons.
“I wouldn’t use nuclear. We don’t have to. We’re the greatest nuclear power in the world,” he said.
The interview came after the outlet asked Trump about reports that Washington was considering using the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB), widely known as the “Mother of All Bombs”, against Iran.
Trump on Iran:
I don’t see troops on the ground in Iran. https://t.co/NdDdggqei9
— Clash Report (@clashreport) October 16, 2026
Trump comments on ‘Mother of All Bombs’
Trump stressed that the MOAB was a conventional weapon rather than a nuclear bomb, although he did not confirm or deny reports that the US was considering deploying it.
“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 said.
Asked whether he would send US troops into Iran, Trump replied: “No, I don’t see that, I don’t see it.”
The MOAB is the largest non-nuclear bomb in the US arsenal. It was first used in combat in 2017 against Islamic State (ISIS) militants in Afghanistan.
Read Also: US Weighs ‘Mother of All Bombs’ Strike on Iran’s ‘Nuclear’ Sites
US military reportedly prepares new strike plans
CNN reported on Thursday that the US military had developed new plans to target Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear facilities.
The report said the strikes could be carried out if Trump ordered military operations to resume, either before or after the November 3 midterm elections.
The White House did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment on the reported plans.
Trump said on October 8 that he would not order a resumption of military strikes before the midterm elections, leaving uncertainty over the timing of any potential escalation.
Trump says he won’t use nuclear weapons or send ground troops to Iran https://t.co/mE3wkvq48R
— CNBC (@CNBC) October 16, 2026
Attacks raise risks for shipping in Strait of Hormuz
Meanwhile, commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is facing heightened security risks following a series of attacks in the strategically important waterway.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said the threat level in the strait remained “severe” after the Singapore-registered container ship GFS Pride was struck by an unidentified projectile, caught fire and subsequently sank.
Read Also: Oil Prices Fall as Trump Rules Out Iran Attack Before US Elections
The agency said “deliberate hostile action” was highly likely and reported eight attacks in the waterway since October 11.
The Strait of Hormuz is a vital international shipping route for global energy supplies. Continued attacks in the area could disrupt maritime trade and further heighten tensions across the Middle East.
