WASHINGTON, Oct. 16, 2026 — US President Donald Trump has ruled out using nuclear weapons against Iran and said he sees little prospect of American ground troops being deployed there, even as the US military draws up fresh strike options that include the world’s most powerful non-nuclear bomb.
Trump draws the line: no nukes, no boots on the ground
Speaking in an interview with Newsmax on Thursday, Trump responded to a CNN report that the Pentagon was weighing the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast — the “Mother of All Bombs” — against Iranian targets. Without directly confirming or denying the report, the president clarified the weapon’s nature and set firm limits on its use.
The president described the MOAB as “not nuclear at all,” calling it “just an extremely large bomb,” and said: “No, I wouldn’t use nuclear. We don’t have to.” Asked whether US troops might be sent to Iranian soil, he replied: “I don’t see that. I don’t.”
Pentagon strike options: energy and nuclear sites
CNN reported, citing officials familiar with military planning, that Trump had directed the military to develop additional strike packages that could include the MOAB, particularly against Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear sites such as Pickaxe Mountain. One source familiar with the planning said the options included “a lot of energy infrastructure,” according to the network.
The reported options could be considered if Trump decides to resume combat operations before or after the November midterm elections, CNN reported.
War’s shadow over the Gulf
The remarks land amid a volatile regional moment. Tehran has warned Hezbollah to prepare for war as it expects American strikes, diplomats told media outlets, while the Saudi-led coalition faces a barrage of Houthi attacks on Saudi airports and infrastructure. Earlier this week Trump ruled out strikes on Iran before the midterms even as Tehran reviewed reopening plans for the Strait of Hormuz, according to media reports.
Netanyahu and trust
In the same interview, Trump was pressed on whether he would get involved in Israel’s election campaign ahead of the Knesset elections. He said Israeli officials “would like me to be” involved but declined to commit. Asked whether he personally trusted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump replied: “I don’t trust anybody, honestly. In the world of politics, I don’t trust anybody.”
The president went on to highlight what he described as a successful military partnership with Israel during the war against Iran, state media reported.
