Donald Trump said he has no intention of using nuclear weapons, adding that the Islamic Republic has already been “decimated” by conventional forces.
US President Donald Trump said he would not escalate the conflict with Iran into a nuclear war, but warned that “the clock is ticking” for Tehran to reach a peace deal with Washington, as a third US aircraft carrier arrived in the Middle East. The statement came after Iranian media reported explosions over Tehran – the first since a fragile ceasefire took effect two weeks ago.
The cause of the blasts remains unclear. Israeli sources told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that Israel was not conducting strikes on Iran at the time.
Trump’s Warning
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Donald Trump said he has no intention of using nuclear weapons, asserting that the Islamic Republic has already been “decimated” through conventional military action.
“Why would I use a nuclear weapon? We’ve already, in a very conventional way, decimated them without it,” he said, adding, “A nuclear weapon should never be used by anyone.”
At the same time, Trump directed the US Navy to destroy any Iranian vessels found laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz.
Later, he wrote on his Truth Social account that time was running out for Iran to reach an agreement.
“I have all the time in the world, but Iran doesn’t – the clock is ticking,” Donald Trump said, claiming Iran’s military had been dismantled, its leadership eliminated, and that a tight blockade was in place, warning that the situation would only worsen.
US-Iran Standoff
Proposed peace talks between Iran and the United States, expected to take place in Pakistan, remain uncertain, with little indication that diplomacy will resume to resolve tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. Since Donald Trump indefinitely extended the ceasefire, both Washington and Tehran have turned their attention to the Strait of Hormuz – a critical route for nearly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments. Iran has effectively shut down the passage in response to the conflict.
US Deploys Third Aircraft Carrier to Gulf
The USS George H. W. Bush (CVN-77) has arrived in the Middle East, raising the number of US aircraft carriers operating in the region to three. The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) said on X that one carrier was active in the Red Sea on Thursday, while another was also deployed in the region.
Earlier, US forces intercepted a vessel in the Indian Ocean carrying Iranian oil. Meanwhile, a senior Iranian official said Tehran had received its first revenues from tolls imposed on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
Donald Trump also stated that he had ordered the US Navy to target and destroy any boats attempting to lay mines in the Strait of Hormuz.