Trump Rules Out Nuclear Strike on Iran as 6-Month War Stays Limited

3 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Aug 31

Trump said the U.S. may still "smack" Iran militarily but signaled the latest strikes are unlikely to expand into a new full-scale offensive.
In the Oval Office, he explicitly ruled out using a nuclear weapon against Iran, saying there was "no reason" because Tehran was already "totally defeated militarily."
U.S. and Iranian forces still traded attacks into Monday: Tehran said it targeted U.S. sites in Jordan and the UAE after CENTCOM struck Iranian launchers preparing to fire into the Strait of Hormuz.
For now, Washington appears focused on keeping Hormuz open for shipping with Navy escorts rather than broadening the war, even as Iran retains some strike capacity and can still threaten the waterway.
Six months after Trump predicted a short conflict, the war has settled into a tense middle ground between peace and major escalation, with U.S. commanders warning of munitions shortages and force strain.