Trump says US will secure Iran’s enriched uranium with or without a deal | Today’s news

President Donald Trump said the United States is ready to work with Iran to acquire and destroy its stockpile of highly enriched uranium if a peace deal is reached to end the three-month-old conflict between the two countries.

In an interview with NBC News, Trump said the US would directly oversee the process.

“If we make a deal to be friendly now, we’re all going to go together. It’s going to be our equipment. We’re going to take it out and destroy it, whether it’s on site or we’re going to take it off site,” Trump said.

Trump added that if negotiations fail, the US would further weaken Iran militarily before securing the material on its own.

“And we will go with them or without them. But people will not shoot at us,” Trump said. “Now, if we don’t make a deal, then we will take them down very hard militarily.

Space Force tracking capabilities

Trump also highlighted US surveillance capabilities, claiming that US space technology can closely monitor Iran’s nuclear facilities.

“We’ve got cameras on it, all around. If somebody walked in there, I could read your first name on your lapel,” Trump told the reporter.

He attributed the capability to the US Space Force, describing it as “pretty amazing technology”.

Negotiations on the nuclear deal are coming to an end

According to Trump, Washington and Tehran are “very close” to reaching an agreement, even as he continues to push for tighter restrictions.

The president said Iran has already accepted words banning the development of nuclear weapons, but he wants additional wording that would also prohibit Iran from buying or otherwise acquiring nuclear weapons.

“They have no right to develop or buy, acquire or buy,” Trump said.

He admitted that Iranian negotiators initially resisted the proposal, but later appeared to accept it.

Comments on Iran’s new leadership

Trump described Iran’s new leadership as more pragmatic following the deaths of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and several senior officials during the conflict.

According to Trump, Khamenei’s son Mojtaba Khamenei now plays a role in approving any deal and has been involved in discussions surrounding a potential deal.

“Younger. I think more rational,” Trump said, comparing Mojtaba Khamenei to his father.

Trump also claimed that the younger Khamenei suffered serious injuries during the conflict, but declined to provide details of his whereabouts.

Troops will remain in the region

Despite the temporary ceasefire, Trump said the approximately 50,000 US troops stationed in the region would remain in place until negotiations were completed.

“I think we’re going to keep them there until we have completion,” he told NBC News.

The president argued that maintaining a military presence provides leverage in negotiations and ensures regional stability.

Read also | Trump plans to divert $24 billion in frozen Iranian assets as ceasefire talks stall

Criticism of previous Iranian policies

Trump again criticized the nuclear deal negotiated under former President Barack Obama, arguing that it provided financial benefits to Iran while failing to permanently eliminate nuclear risks.

He said any future deal would not immediately include the release of frozen Iranian assets.

“That will come later,” Trump said. “If they behave, if they do a good job, we’ll start talking.”

The president argued that withdrawing from the Obama-era deal during his first term was the right decision, saying the current negotiations offer a better opportunity for a permanent arrangement.

Iran’s military and economic situation

Trump said the US and Israeli operations had severely damaged Iran’s military capabilities.

“Look, we have completely destroyed their army,” he said.

He estimated that Iran retains only about “21%, 22%” of its pre-war missile stockpile and described the country’s economy as severely weakened.

According to Trump, sustained pressure will increase Tehran’s motivation to complete the deal.

Economic impact and oil prices

The president acknowledged that the conflict has contributed to higher fuel and fertilizer prices, in part because of disruptions affecting the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global route for oil transit.

But he argued that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon justified the economic costs.

“I will get nuclear weapons out of the hands of very dangerous people,” Trump said.

He predicted that once a permanent settlement was reached, energy prices would fall.

“When we have completion, you’re going to see things like you’ve never seen. Oil is going to go down,” Trump told NBC News.

Read also | Trump won’t rule out paying Capitol rioters accused of attacking police on Jan. 6