President Donald Trump has ruled out using nuclear weapons against Iran, saying there is no reason for the United States to launch a nuclear attack as Washington considers additional conventional military action.
Responding to a reporter’s question, Trump dismissed the idea as unnecessary and argued that Iran had already been defeated.
“Iran has been completely defeated, why should I use nuclear weapons?” Trump said.
The remarks come amid renewed military tensions between Washington and Tehran and continued uncertainty surrounding commercial shipping through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
Trump Says Nuclear Weapons Are Not Needed
Trump’s latest comments appear aimed at drawing a distinction between the United States’ conventional military campaign and the possibility of using nuclear weapons.
The president said Washington had no reason to resort to nuclear force against Iran, despite the continuing confrontation between the two countries.
His comments follow repeated warnings about Iran’s nuclear program and Trump’s insistence that Tehran must not be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon.
The president has continued to defend US military action while suggesting that the current conflict can be managed without escalating to the use of nuclear weapons.
Trump Claims Hormuz Shipping Is Improving
Trump also offered an optimistic assessment of conditions in the Strait of Hormuz.
The president said the waterway was in much better condition and claimed that commercial ships were continuing to pass through the strategic route.
According to Trump, around 30 ships are traveling through the Strait of Hormuz on an average night.
The actual level of commercial traffic and the extent of safe navigation remain disputed. Previous reporting by Axios indicated that between 20 and 30 tankers had crossed the waterway on some nights.
The Strait of Hormuz remains crucial to global energy markets because of the volume of oil and liquefied natural gas normally transported through the route.
Trump Calls Iran a Failed State
Trump also described Iran as a “failed state” and made another claim about the country’s deteriorating economy.
He said Iranian inflation had climbed to 350% and claimed Tehran was struggling to find enough money to pay its military personnel.
The claims were made as Trump defended the continued US pressure campaign against Iran.
Despite describing Iran as economically weakened, Trump indicated that Washington was still assessing its next steps and had not ruled out additional military operations.
US Considers Intermittent Strikes on Iran
While Trump has ruled out nuclear attacks, his administration is reportedly considering a more limited conventional military strategy.
According to Axios, Trump has been weighing intermittent strikes against Iranian military facilities connected to threats against shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
The reported plan would focus on preventing Iran from rebuilding radar and missile capabilities that could allow Tehran to threaten commercial vessels.
US Central Command, or CENTCOM, has reportedly developed an operational proposal for targeting facilities associated with Iran’s ability to monitor and attack ships moving through the waterway.
Rather than launching a broad military campaign, the proposed strategy would involve occasional strikes designed to prevent Iran from restoring capabilities that could disrupt maritime traffic.
Pentagon Officials Back Limited Military Option
Trump has reportedly discussed the possible strategy with senior advisers.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has reportedly supported the limited-strike approach, while CENTCOM developed the operational plan and presented the option to the White House.
According to the report, the proposal had not received final approval before the latest escalation between the United States and Iran.
The strategy reflects Washington’s focus on protecting commercial shipping while avoiding a wider military campaign.
Why the Strait of Hormuz Matters
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the most important pressure points in the US-Iran conflict.
The narrow waterway connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea and serves as a major route for international energy shipments.
Iran’s ability to deploy radar systems, missiles and other military equipment near the strait has raised concerns in Washington about the security of commercial vessels.
US forces have already conducted operations targeting Iranian military capabilities in the area.
Washington has also promoted protected shipping routes to encourage commercial vessels to resume transit through the waterway.
The reported limited-strike strategy would seek to maintain those routes by preventing Iran from rebuilding systems that could threaten ships or interfere with navigation.
Trump’s rejection of nuclear weapons therefore comes alongside consideration of further conventional attacks, leaving the possibility of continued US military action against Iranian targets as Washington attempts to keep the Strait of Hormuz open to commercial traffic.
