No Nuclear Strike, No Ground Troops: What Did Trump Say About His Plans for Iran?

US President Donald Trump has set the boundaries for war against Iran after his request for the military to study the use of the "Mother of All Bombs" raised doubts about his plans.

In an interview with the American network Newsmax, Trump said he rules out deploying ground forces in Iran, affirming that he "will not use nuclear weapons" against it.

What are the reasons for the denial?

An American source had told CNN that Trump ordered the military to prepare additional packages of strikes against Iranian targets, including "many energy infrastructure facilities," while exploring the possibility of using the "Mother of All Bombs."

The "Mother of All Bombs" is the largest non-nuclear bomb in the US arsenal and has never been used in US strikes on Iran.

Statements attributed to officials in the US administration raised concerns about Trump's plans regarding Iran and whether he intends to expand the war in hopes of settling it.

Trump told Newsmax that the "Mother of All Bombs is not a nuclear bomb."

Why does Trump feel pressure?

Trump faces pressure as his popularity and that of his party decline less than a month before the congressional midterm elections amid an inflation wave caused by rising fuel prices.

The US president had previously stated on more than one occasion that he intends to end the war against Iran after the elections, but there are no significant indications that Washington and Tehran are approaching a negotiated settlement, after more than six months of US bombing.

While the US military continues to present options to Trump regarding potential strikes on Iranian targets that have not yet been hit, some officials still wonder privately whether the White House has a strategy that integrates these plans in a way that could actually lead to ending the war, a decision only the president has the authority to make.

Trump said in the interview with Newsmax that Iran requested a halt to the attacks and that negotiations with them are still ongoing.