US President Donald Trump has said he would not use nuclear weapons in any conflict involving Iran, stressing that such weapons should never be deployed by any country.
Speaking to reporters at the White House on April 23, Trump rejected the idea when asked directly about their potential use.
“Why would I use a nuclear weapon? We’ve totally, in a very conventional way, decimated them without it,” he said, adding that nuclear arms “should never be allowed to be used by anybody.”
The president also addressed questions about a potential long-term peace agreement with Iran, saying there was no urgency on his part to rush negotiations. “Don’t rush me,” he told reporters when asked about a timeline.
Trump claimed that Iran may have strengthened its military capabilities during a recent two-week ceasefire period, but insisted that US forces would be able to neutralise any such buildup quickly.
“They might have loaded up a little bit during the two-week hiatus, but we’ll knock that out in about one day,” he said, adding that Iran’s naval, air, and air defence capabilities had already been severely weakened.
“Their navy is gone. Their air force is gone, their anti-aircraft is gone,” he said.
Despite the tensions, Trump said he remained focused on securing what he described as a lasting agreement with Tehran. “I could make a deal right now… but I don’t want to do that. I want to have it everlasting,” he added.
