During a Thursday night appearance on Newsmax, President Donald Trump said he had no plans to employ nuclear weapons against Iran and added, "I wouldn't use nuclear. We don't have to."
Pressed about reports on the GBU-43/B, the Massive Ordnance Air Blast known as the "Mother of All Bombs," he emphasized the weapon is conventional, saying, "It's not nuclear at all." He likened it to a tiny nuclear bomb. He did not confirm or deny the reports.
CNN reported earlier Thursday that the U.S. military drew up updated plans for strikes aimed at Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear sites. Those strikes would occur only if Trump directs a restart of combat operations, whether that happens before or after the midterm elections. CNBC noted that the White House offered no immediate comment in response to a request.
On Oct. 8, Trump indicated that no renewed military strikes would be authorized ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections.
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The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations says the threat level in the Strait of Hormuz remains "severe," after an incident where the container ship GFS Pride, registered in Singapore, was struck by an unidentified projectile, ignited, and later sank. UKMTO assessed "deliberate hostile action" as highly likely and said it has logged eight attacks in the waterway since Oct. 11.
Why this matters for your portfolio: Hormuz is a chokepoint for global energy flows. Elevated risk there can flow through to oil prices, freight rates, and any asset tied to shipping or fuel costs.
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