Trump reiterates Iran can't have nuclear weapons

Trump reiterates Iran can't have nuclear weapons

In a recent statement, President Donald Trump emphasized that Iran cannot possess nuclear weapons, reiterating his administration's stance on the ongoing nuclear negotiations with Tehran. This announcement comes after a series of talks between U.S. and Iranian delegations, with both sides reporting progress but significant differences remaining [1].

During a business roundtable in Doha, Trump stated that Iran has "sort of agreed to the terms" of a deal and will not engage in "nuclear dust," a term that may refer to Iran's uranium enrichment capabilities [1]. However, Iranian officials have consistently maintained that they are willing to limit their enrichment program but will not give up the capability entirely [1].

The U.S. has sent mixed signals about its position on Iran's uranium enrichment program. While U.S. Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff suggested that the U.S. could agree to a deal allowing Iran to continue enrichment, later statements from the Trump administration indicated that a deal would prohibit enrichment [1].

Iranian officials have shown readiness to sign a deal with the U.S., with Adviser to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Ali Shamkhani, stating that Iran is willing to limit uranium enrichment to low levels in exchange for the lifting of sanctions [1]. However, Iran is currently enriching uranium up to 60 percent uranium-235, a level that could be quickly enriched to weapons-grade levels [1].

The U.S. administration has been consistent in its demand that Iran halt all uranium enrichment activities. Trump has emphasized that there is not much time for negotiations and that Iran will continue to face economic pressure if there is no deal [1]. As part of its ongoing pressure campaign, the U.S. State Department announced new sanctions on Iranian entities connected to the Organization of Defense Innovation and Research [1].

A Saudi official has warned Iran to reach a nuclear deal with the Trump administration or risk an Israeli strike, highlighting the regional implications of the talks [2]. The visit by Saudi Arabia's Prince Khalid bin Salman to Tehran underscores the urgency of the situation and the desire for stability in the region [2].

The ongoing negotiations have seen some progress, but significant differences remain. Both sides have agreed to continue working on the technical elements of a deal, with the fifth round of talks concluding on constructive terms [1, 2]. However, the path to a final agreement remains uncertain, with both sides emphasizing their positions on uranium enrichment.

References:
[1] https://www.armscontrol.org/act/2025-06/news/trump-touts-progress-iran-nuclear-deal
[2] https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/408906