President Donald Trump has ruled out using nuclear weapons against Iran, saying the United States can pursue its military objectives without resorting to an atomic strike. In an October 15 interview with Newsmax host Rob Finnerty, Trump addressed reports that the Pentagon was considering the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast, widely known as the “Mother of All Bombs,” for potential strikes against Iranian targets. “No, no, it’s not nuclear at all,” Trump said, describing the weapon as “an extremely large bomb” that is “like a tiny nuclear bomb” but does not use nuclear technology. He then made his position on nuclear weapons explicit, stating, “I wouldn’t use nuclear, we don’t have to,” while emphasizing America’s military strength. His comments come as Washington weighs its options in the ongoing conflict with Iran, including potential attacks on heavily fortified facilities. 

Despite Trump’s comparison, the MOAB is a conventional high-explosive weapon, not a nuclear bomb, and its destructive effects differ fundamentally from those of a nuclear detonation. Weighing approximately 21,600 pounds, the GPS-guided munition is designed to deliver a powerful blast against large-area targets and certain structures, including facilities in caves or tunnels. Reports have indicated that U.S. military planners have examined possible uses of the weapon against Iranian targets, including heavily fortified sites, but Trump did not explicitly confirm that a strike using the MOAB had been authorized. The distinction matters because discussing a powerful conventional weapon does not mean that a nuclear attack is planned or that any particular operation will proceed. For now, Trump’s remarks communicate a stated rejection of nuclear weapons against Iran while leaving questions about the timing, targets and scope of any future conventional military action unresolved.