President Trump on Thursday unequivocally ruled out the use of nuclear weapons against Iran, declaring that conventional military force has already achieved the desired effect. Speaking in the Oval Office after an event on drug pricing, Trump dismissed a reporter's question as "stupid" and said there is simply no need for such escalation.
"Why would I use a nuclear weapon when we've totally, in a very conventional way, decimated them without it?" Trump asked, framing the query as absurd. He added, "No, I wouldn't use it. A nuclear weapon should never be allowed to be used by anybody."
The president's remarks come amid ongoing tensions with Tehran, which has faced a sustained U.S. military campaign. Trump has consistently maintained that Iran must never acquire a nuclear bomb, warning that the U.S. would seize what he called Iran's "nuclear dust"—enriched uranium. Yet his tone has oscillated between bellicose threats and diplomatic overtures, including a reference to a "whole civilization will die tonight" ahead of a self-imposed deadline earlier this month.
"They cannot have the nuclear bomb, and they're not going to have the nuclear bomb," Trump reiterated.
Trump claimed that Iran's military has been effectively neutralized, with "75 percent of our targets" struck. He noted that operations were paused early because "they wanted to have some peace," and boasted of a "blockade that's 100 percent effective" that is strangling Iran's economy. The president established an indefinite ceasefire with Iran earlier this week, just as a previous two-week truce was about to lapse.
"We have been speaking to them, but they don't even know who's leading the country. They're in turmoil," Trump said, suggesting the U.S. is waiting for a unified Iranian negotiating position. When pressed on how long he would wait, he pushed back: "Don't rush me."
The administration's dual approach—military pressure and diplomatic overtures—mirrors broader tensions within the White House. The president's recent feud with Pope Leo XIV and distancing by former Vice President Pence underscore internal fractures. Meanwhile, Trump's push on drug pricing, including a planned Regeneron deal, continues to command domestic attention.
Critics argue that Trump's erratic messaging risks undermining credibility, while supporters see it as a calculated strategy to keep adversaries off balance. The indefinite ceasefire, however, offers a potential off-ramp from a conflict that has exacted a heavy toll on both sides.
