President Donald Trump proposed negotiating a nuclear peace deal with Iran on Wednesday, strengthening his position that the Islamic Republic must not possess nuclear weapons.
“I want Iran to be a great and successful Country, but one that cannot have a Nuclear Weapon. Reports that the United States, working in conjunction with Israel, is going to blow Iran into smithereens ARE GREATLY EXAGGERATED,” he stated on Truth Social.
“I would much prefer a Verified Nuclear Peace Agreement, which will let Iran peacefully grow and prosper,” Trump added. “We should start working on it immediately, and have a big Middle East Celebration when it is signed and completed. God Bless the Middle East!”
Trump did not elaborate on what such an agreement would entail but emphasized his preference for diplomacy over military action. His comments come after a recent executive order aimed at eliminating Iran’s oil exports, a move designed to exert economic pressure on the Islamic regime.
While Trump has expressed willingness to engage in negotiations, he has also warned Iran against any aggressive actions, particularly threats against his life. “I’m going to sign it, but hopefully we’re not going to have to use it very much,” Trump said Tuesday, regarding the executive order. “We will see whether or not we can arrange or work out a deal with Iran.”
“We don’t want to be tough on Iran. We don’t want to be tough on anybody,” he continued. “But they just can’t have a nuclear bomb,” he added, according to The Hill.
Trump’s latest position mirrors his approach toward Iran during his first term. In 2018, he withdrew the U.S. from the Obama-era Iran nuclear deal, arguing it was ineffective in preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Shortly after the U.S. withdrawal, Iran abandoned its commitments under the agreement and resumed uranium enrichment.
According to U.S. intelligence, Iran has reportedly assembled a secret team of scientists tasked with accelerating the country’s nuclear program if its leadership decides to move forward. The New York Times reported Monday that both current and former American officials believe Iran is positioning itself to develop a nuclear weapon at a faster rate.
