US President Donald Trump ruled out using a nuclear weapon against Iran on Thursday. This follows his previous threats to destroy Iranian civilization completely. Trump told reporters at the White House, “No, I wouldn’t use it,” and questioned why he would resort to such extreme measures when conventional methods have been effective.
Trump had issued a genocidal threat to Iran on April 7, stating that “a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back.” However, within hours, Trump agreed to a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict launched by the US and Israel. Vice President JD Vance warned of intensified damage against Iran during negotiations but the White House denied nuclear threats.
Trump emphasized his goal for an Iran without a nuclear weapon that poses a threat to US cities or the entire Middle East. Iran denies seeking a nuclear weapon, and the UN nuclear watchdog says such development was not imminent before the war began. The US is the only country to have used nuclear weapons in combat, with Israel widely believed to possess them but not acknowledging it publicly.
Trump’s statement against using any nuclear weapons conflicts with longstanding US nuclear doctrine, which reserves the right to use nuclear weapons if necessary. Trump previously called for an end to a US moratorium on nuclear testing amid allegations of secret tests by China and Russia. Former President Barack Obama had advocated for a world without nuclear weapons but maintained that the US arsenal would remain as a deterrent until all nuclear weapons are eliminated.