US President Trump Rejects Nuclear Strike on Iran, Threatens Further Conventional Attacks

US President Donald Trump has ruled out using nuclear weapons against Iran while warning that Washington could launch further strikes against an underground facility associated with the country’s nuclear program. In an interview with Newsmax on Thursday, Trump identified Pickaxe Mountain as a potential target and said US forces might strike the fortified site. He described the Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB), commonly called the “mother of all bombs,” as a conventional weapon rather than a nuclear one.

“No, I wouldn’t use nuclear. We don’t have to,” Trump said, rejecting the use of atomic weapons while maintaining that Washington would act to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Trump said the underground facility was buried beneath extensive layers of rock and suggested US forces could destroy it quickly. He did not confirm whether he had authorized use of the MOAB against Iranian targets.

Although ruling out nuclear weapons, Trump left open the prospect of another devastating conventional attack. His comments offer no assurance that Iran will be spared further bombing, particularly as Washington continues to present military force as a means of dictating the limits of Tehran’s nuclear activities.

The threat comes amid a conflict that began with US-Israeli strikes against Iran in February. The possibility of renewed attacks raises concerns about further casualties, damage to critical infrastructure and wider regional instability. Trump also said he did not expect American ground troops to be deployed in Iran. He argued that failing to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons could force Washington to undertake military action again within a year.

The president predicted the conflict would end soon and claimed Iranian officials had asked Washington to halt US and Israeli operations. He also said negotiations were under way, though his remarks offered no detailed account of the discussions or evidence of an imminent agreement. Washington has repeatedly framed its military campaign around preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons. However, threatening additional attacks on deeply fortified sites while pursuing negotiations underscores the coercive approach shaping US policy toward Tehran.

The latest remarks leave Iran facing the prospect of renewed strikes even as Washington publicly signals that a nuclear attack is unnecessary. For the region, the distinction between nuclear and conventional weapons does not remove the risks posed by another major bombing campaign.

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