Trump: US ‘very close’ to deal with Iran, but demanding stricter nuclear terms |
US President Donald Trump said Sunday that Washington is “very close” to reaching a deal with Iran, but is seeking airtight language to ensure the country cannot get a nuclear weapon.
“I’m going to put it out permanently,” he told NBC News’ “Meet the Press,” referring to the nuclear threat. “Either I’m going to do it through negotiation – where we’re very close to a deal – or I’m going to blow the hell out of them, to be honest with you.”
The interview was recorded before a major escalation in the conflict later that day. After Hezbollah — an Iranian proxy that attacked Israel on March 2 in support of its sponsor — targeted northern Israel, Israel launched airstrikes in Beirut’s southern suburbs, which it had largely refrained from attacking, in deference to the US. A few hours later, Iran directly attacked Israel for the first time since an April 8 truce.
Trump told NBC: “They (Iran) cannot have a nuclear weapon. And if there was even a one percent chance that they’d have it, I wouldn’t leave.” He added: “We’re almost finished.”
Trump said Iran has “conceded the fact that they will not have nuclear weapons,” and already agreed to language committing not to “develop” them.
“And I said, ‘Well, what happens if they, not develop, but they go out and purchase, they acquire? I want to put the word, ‘If they buy, purchase or acquire,’” he said, arguing, “You know, you’ve got to have that in there, too, because that’s not developing.”
Though the Islamic Republic has always denied seeking a nuclear weapon, it has enriched uranium to near-weapons-grade levels – far beyond what is necessary for civilian purposes – and has obstructed inspectors from checking its facilities.
Tehran has not made any public concessions on its nuclear program, insisting that negotiations on the matter occur only once a preliminary ceasefire – including the lifting of the US blockade, imposed after Iran shut the Strait of Hormuz – is already in place.
Trump reiterated that Washington will retrieve and destroy Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium if the sides reach an agreement, while warning that the US would further degrade Iran’s capabilities and secure the material by force if talks collapse.
“If we make a deal that now we’re........