U.S. President Donald Trump stated in a Newsmax interview broadcast Thursday evening that he does not intend to use nuclear weapons against Iran or deploy ground troops. This comes as reports suggest Washington is considering new strike options, including the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB), which Trump clarified is not nuclear. Earlier on Thursday, CNN reported that the U.S. military has developed new strike plans targeting Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear sites. Trump had previously said on October 8 that he would not order a resumption of military strikes before the November 3 midterm elections. Meanwhile, merchant shipping in the Strait of Hormuz faces heightened risks, with the UKMTO reporting eight attacks since October 11 and a Singapore-registered container ship sinking after being struck.