U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday, April 23, said the United States will not deploy nuclear weapons against Iran, marking a notable shift from earlier rhetoric that warned of catastrophic consequences for the country.

Speaking during a White House press briefing, Trump questioned the need for nuclear force, citing the effectiveness of conventional military operations.

“Why would I use a nuclear weapon when we’ve, in a very conventional way, decimated them without it?” he said, adding that “a nuclear weapon should never be allowed to be used by anybody.”

The remarks follow a statement on April 7 in which Trump warned that “a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back,” language that drew widespread concern. Shortly afterward, he agreed to a ceasefire that remains in place amid the ongoing conflict involving the United States and Israel.

Vice President JD Vance had previously suggested that the U.S. was prepared to deploy weapons not yet used in the conflict, though the White House has maintained that such comments did not mean any intention to use nuclear arms.

Trump reiterated that his central objective is ensuring Iran does not obtain nuclear weapons, stating he seeks “an Iran without a nuclear weapon that’s going to try and blow up one of our cities or the entire Middle East.”

Iran has consistently denied pursuing nuclear weapons, and United Nations assessments prior to the outbreak of hostilities indicated that an atomic device was not imminent.

Trump’s categorical stance against nuclear use contrasts with longstanding U.S. nuclear doctrine, which preserves the option of first use and has historically rejected formal “no first use” commitments.

The development adds a new dimension to the administration’s evolving nuclear policy, which has at times emphasized both deterrence and expanded strategic capabilities.