President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Iran, stating that if a deal to end the three-month-old war between the two countries is not reached, the United States will take military action "very harshly." In an interview with NBC News' 'Meet the Press' program, Trump outlined his administration's approach to resolving the conflict and addressing Iran's nuclear program.
Conditions for Cooperation
Trump explained that if a deal is struck, the US would work with Iran to retrieve and destroy its highly enriched uranium. "If we make a deal that now we're friendly, we'll all go together. 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," he said. However, he emphasized that no sanctions would be lifted or assets unfrozen upfront until the peace deal is finalized.
Military Option
In the absence of an agreement, Trump threatened to further degrade the Iranian military to the point where American forces could safely collect the fissile material on their own. "Now, 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, in which case we'll have safety either way," he stated.
Nuclear Ambitions
The President said he was "very close" to signing a deal with Iran but is pushing for stronger commitments. He insisted on including provisions that prevent Iran from not only developing but also purchasing or acquiring nuclear weapons. "They've conceded the fact that they will not have nuclear weapons. We had a clause in there that (they) will not develop nuclear weapons. And everybody was very happy with it except me," Trump said, adding that he wants to ensure Iran cannot circumvent the deal by buying weapons-grade material.
Leadership and Diplomacy
Trump described Iran's new leadership as "more rational, very smart" and expressed openness to speaking with Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei. "I would if he'd like to," Trump said, though he noted he has not spoken to him directly. He also clarified that he is not demanding Lebanon be part of a short-term deal with Tehran.
Troop Deployment
The President indicated that US troops would remain deployed in the region until the situation is resolved. He did not specify a timeline but stressed the importance of ensuring a safe outcome for all parties involved.
