Trump believes Israel won't use nuclear weapons on Iran, presses allies to protect Hormuz
The US president dismisses warnings of possible nuclear escalation by Israel while urging allies to help secure the Strait of Hormuz as the conflict threatens global oil supplies.
US President Donald Trump has said he trusts Israel would never use nuclear weapons in its war on Iran, brushing aside warnings from one of his own advisers that the conflict could escalate dramatically if it drags on.
Speaking at the White House on Monday, Trump rejected speculation raised by adviser David Sacks, who suggested Israel might contemplate a nuclear option if the war continued for weeks or months.
“Israel wouldn’t do that. Israel would never do that,” Trump told reporters.
Sacks — a venture capitalist serving as the administration’s artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency adviser — had recently urged Washington to consider an “off-ramp” from the conflict.
Speaking on his “All-In” podcast, he warned that prolonged fighting could strain Israel’s defences and create pressure for drastic escalation.
“If this war continues for weeks or months, then Israel could just be destroyed,” Sacks said, suggesting Israel’s air defences could eventually be exhausted and raise the risk of a nuclear response.
Hormuz tensions shake energy markets
Trump’s remarks came as the conflict increasingly spilt into the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas typically passes.
Following joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran, Tehran has targeted shipping in the strait with drones, missiles and naval mines, disrupting tanker traffic and raising fears of a global energy shock.
Trump again called on allied countries to help secure the route but criticised some partners for what he described as lukewarm support.
“Some are very enthusiastic about it, and some aren’t,” he said, adding that the level of enthusiasm from countries the United States has long protected “matters.”
Several US allies said on Monday they had no immediate plans to deploy ships to help reopen the waterway.
Uncertainty over Iran’s leadership
Trump also said he believes Iran may want to negotiate an end to the war but acknowledged confusion over who currently leads the country.
After Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei was killed early in the conflict, Tehran named his son Mojtaba Khamenei as successor.
But Trump cited conflicting reports about Mojtaba Khamenei’s condition after a strike, saying Washington was unsure who could represent Iran in potential negotiations.
“We don’t know who their leader is,” Trump said. “We have people wanting to negotiate. We have no idea who they are.”
The war began on February 28 with joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran and has since expanded across the Gulf region, raising fears of wider escalation while threatening one of the world’s most critical energy supply routes.