United States President Donald Trump has said he would not use nuclear weapons against Iran, despite earlier threats during the ongoing conflict.
Speaking to reporters at the White House on Thursday, Trump dismissed the idea, saying there would be no need to go that far.
“I wouldn’t use it,” he said. “Why would I, when we’ve already dealt heavy damage using conventional weapons?”
He added that nuclear weapons should never be used by anyone.
The comment marks a softer tone compared to earlier statements on April 7, when Trump warned that Iran could face total destruction.
However, shortly after that remark, he agreed to a ceasefire, which has since been extended.
During the height of the tensions, Vice President JD Vance also suggested that the U.S. was prepared to escalate the situation using more advanced weapons, although the White House later clarified that he was not referring to nuclear options.
Trump maintained that his goal is to ensure Iran does not develop nuclear weapons, warning that such capability could pose a serious threat to the United States and the wider Middle East.
Iran, however, has consistently denied pursuing nuclear weapons, while international monitors have previously said there was no immediate sign the country was close to building one before the war began.
The issue of nuclear weapons remains sensitive globally.
The United States is still the only country to have used them in warfare during World War II, when atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan, killing over 200,000 people.
While countries like Israel are widely believed to possess nuclear weapons, they have never officially confirmed it.
Trump’s latest remarks appear to contrast with long-standing U.S. policy, which does not rule out the use of nuclear weapons in extreme situations.
