By Emmanuel Bobby
President Donald Trump said the United States is prepared to work directly with Iran to remove and destroy its highly enriched uranium stockpiles if a peace agreement can be reached to end the ongoing conflict between the two countries. However, he warned that if negotiations fail, the U.S. is prepared to intensify military pressure and neutralize remaining Iranian capabilities before securing the material independently.
In some of his most detailed comments yet regarding the future of U.S.-Iran relations, Trump outlined a vision in which American and Iranian officials could jointly oversee the dismantling of Tehran’s nuclear infrastructure under a negotiated settlement.
“If we make a deal that now we’re friendly, we’ll all go together,” Trump said. “It’ll be our equipment. We’ll take it out and destroy it, whether it’s on-site or whether we take it off-site.”
At the same time, Trump emphasized that Washington is prepared to proceed without Iranian cooperation if diplomacy collapses.
“And we will go with them, or without them,” he said. “But we won’t have people shooting at us. If we don’t make a deal, then we’re going to take them out militarily very harshly. And we’ll wait till we do that before we go.”
Trump Highlights U.S. Surveillance Capabilities
Trump also touted what he described as America’s ability to closely monitor Iranian nuclear facilities through advanced military and space-based surveillance systems.
According to the president, the United States possesses sophisticated imaging technology capable of tracking activity around key sites in extraordinary detail.
“We have cameras on it, all over it,” Trump said. “If anybody walked there, if you walked over there, I would be able to read your first name on your lapel.”
He attributed those capabilities in part to the work of the United States Space Force, emphasizing the role of satellite technology in monitoring potential nuclear activities.
“These are cameras up in space,” he said. “It’s pretty amazing technology.”
The remarks reflected Trump’s broader argument that any future agreement with Iran must include rigorous verification mechanisms to ensure compliance and prevent hidden nuclear development.
Peace Deal Reportedly Close but Key Differences Remain
Trump indicated that negotiations with Tehran are nearing a possible breakthrough, saying both sides are “very close” to reaching a permanent agreement to halt hostilities.
However, he suggested that one of the remaining sticking points involves the exact language governing Iran’s future nuclear activities.
According to Trump, Iranian negotiators have already agreed that the country will not develop nuclear weapons. But he wants broader restrictions that would also prevent Tehran from acquiring such weapons or related capabilities through outside sources.
“They’ve conceded the fact that they will not have nuclear weapons,” Trump said.
He explained that he pushed negotiators to expand the agreement’s language beyond simply prohibiting domestic development.
“I said, ‘What happens if they, not develop, but they go out and purchase, they acquire?’” Trump said. “I want to put the word ‘purchase, acquire or buy’ in there.”
The president argued that such wording is necessary to prevent Iran from circumventing restrictions by obtaining nuclear capabilities from foreign actors.
While he acknowledged there was initial resistance from Iranian officials, Trump suggested that opposition eventually faded.
“They pushed back a little bit,” he said. “And then they didn’t.”
New Iranian Leadership Viewed as More Pragmatic
Trump also offered a surprisingly positive assessment of Iran’s new leadership following the deaths of numerous senior Iranian figures during the conflict.
Among those killed was former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, whose death dramatically reshaped Iran’s political landscape.
His son, Mojtaba Khamenei, has reportedly assumed the country’s highest leadership role and is involved in approving the ongoing negotiations.
Trump described the younger Khamenei as more pragmatic than his father and suggested that recent events may have altered Tehran’s approach toward diplomacy.
“Younger. I think more rational,” Trump said.
The president also claimed that Mojtaba Khamenei had been seriously injured during the conflict but continued to participate in discussions about the future of Iran’s relationship with the United States.
“There’s a certain bravery there,” Trump said. “A lot of people, if they were injured that badly, they wouldn’t be talking about how we’re doing with the United States.”
Trump added that he would be willing to speak directly with the new Iranian leader if such a conversation could help advance negotiations.
“I would if he’d like to,” Trump said. “But I have not spoken to him directly.”
Trump Declines to Discuss Intelligence Details
When asked whether U.S. intelligence agencies know the precise location of Iran’s new supreme leader, Trump declined to provide a definitive answer.
“I don’t want to say whether or not I know where he is,” he said.
However, he hinted that American intelligence services possess significant information regarding the movements of Iran’s senior leadership.
“There’s a good probability that I do,” Trump added.
The remarks underscored the administration’s effort to project confidence regarding its intelligence-gathering capabilities while avoiding the disclosure of sensitive information.
Public Opinion Favors a Diplomatic Resolution
Despite Trump’s insistence that military pressure remains necessary, public opinion surveys suggest most Americans prefer a negotiated settlement.
Recent polling has shown strong support for ending the conflict through diplomacy as quickly as possible.
Many voters who supported Trump in the 2024 election have also expressed concerns about prolonged military involvement, reflecting the president’s previous campaign message that emphasized avoiding new wars and reducing overseas conflicts.
Trump acknowledged that reaching a durable agreement may take time because of decades of hostility between Washington and Tehran.
“Because they’re strong. They’re proud,” he said of the Iranian people and leadership.
“There are things they never thought they’d be doing that they’re going to have to do. They’ve got no choice. And it takes a little while.”
The president argued that changing the course of nearly five decades of confrontation cannot happen overnight.
“You’re talking about 47 years of getting away with whatever they wanted,” he said.
Criticism of Previous Iran Policies
Trump also revisited his criticism of earlier U.S. efforts to manage Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
He argued that previous administrations allowed Tehran to build its nuclear capabilities and specifically criticized the nuclear agreement negotiated during the administration of former President Barack Obama.
That agreement involved Iran accepting restrictions on its nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief and access to previously frozen financial assets.
Trump withdrew the United States from the deal during his first term, arguing that it failed to adequately address Iran’s long-term ambitions and regional activities.
According to Trump, any new agreement reached under his administration would be significantly different.
He said Iran would not immediately gain access to frozen assets or receive financial concessions simply for signing an agreement.
“That comes after,” Trump said. “If they behave, if they do a good job, we start talking.”
He maintained that the current negotiations would produce a stronger arrangement than what had been achieved previously.
U.S. Troops to Remain in Region
Despite expressing optimism about diplomacy, Trump said there are currently no plans to reduce the U.S. military presence in the Middle East.
Approximately 50,000 American troops remain deployed throughout the region, and the president argued that maintaining that force posture is necessary until negotiations are completed and security concerns are fully addressed.
“I don’t consider them in danger,” Trump said of the troops.
He claimed Iran’s military capabilities have been severely degraded during the conflict and suggested the country has lost most of its missile inventory.
“Look, we have totally destroyed their military,” Trump said. “They have some missiles left. They have some drones left.”
According to Trump’s assessment, Iran retains only about one-fifth of its prewar missile stockpile.
Even so, he argued that withdrawing forces now would be premature.
“It would be foolhardy to do that,” he said, adding that maintaining troops in the region provides leverage during negotiations.
“I think we’ll keep them there until such time as we have a completion.”
Economic Impact Remains a Key Concern
The conflict has had significant economic consequences, particularly in global energy markets.
Disruptions affecting the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil transit routes, have contributed to higher fuel prices and increased costs for consumers.
Trump acknowledged that the war has placed pressure on sectors such as agriculture, where farmers have faced rising costs for fuel and fertilizer.
“Fertilizer was very cheap. Everything was cheap. Gasoline was very low,” Trump said.
He argued, however, that confronting Iran’s nuclear program justified the temporary economic burden.
“I have to take a little bit of a turn,” he said. “The farmers are going to understand it better than anybody.”
Trump maintained that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon remains his administration’s overriding objective.
“We’re going to have higher gasoline,” he said. “We’re going to have a little higher fertilizer. But I’m going to get rid of a nuclear weapon in the hands of very dangerous people.”
Looking Toward a Postwar Future
The president expressed confidence that energy prices and broader economic conditions will improve once a permanent settlement is reached.
He predicted that oil prices would fall and economic activity would accelerate after the conflict concludes.
“And when we have a completion,” Trump said, “you will see things like you’ve never seen. The oil will go down.”
Still, Trump insisted that economic considerations cannot outweigh national security concerns.
“The main thing is we cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon,” he said. “Can’t do it. And we won’t do it.”
As negotiations continue, the administration appears to be pursuing a dual-track strategy: maintaining military pressure while seeking a diplomatic agreement that would permanently eliminate Iran’s ability to obtain nuclear weapons. Whether those efforts produce a lasting settlement may shape both regional stability and U.S. foreign policy for years to come.
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