U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he would authorize further airstrikes against Iran if the country resumes enriching uranium to levels suitable for nuclear weapons. During a White House press conference, Trump was asked if he would consider military action if Iran’s uranium enrichment became a concern. He responded firmly, stating, “Without question. Absolutely.”
Last weekend, Trump had already ordered strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities as part of a military response. This came after a 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel, which began with Israel attacking Iran’s nuclear capabilities. Following the airstrikes, the U.S. is now attempting to shift focus back to diplomatic efforts, although no talks with Iran have been arranged yet.
Trump expressed confidence that Iran would not restart its nuclear program soon, claiming the recent U.S. strikes had “obliterated” their facilities. He noted that Iran had invested heavily in its nuclear program but had not made significant progress. “You cannot let them have a nuclear weapon,” he emphasized, adding that it would take years for Iran to recover from the damage inflicted by the strikes.
In response to the U.S. military actions, Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, vowed to retaliate against any future U.S. attacks. Iran did launch missiles at a U.S. military base in Qatar, but there were no reported damages or casualties from that strike.
Trump dismissed Khamenei’s claims as false and stated that he had prevented the Ayatollah from being killed during the conflict. He claimed that he had information on Khamenei’s location but chose not to act on it. “I SAVED HIM FROM A VERY UGLY AND IGNOMINIOUS DEATH,” Trump said on his social media platform, Truth Social.
In light of Khamenei’s statements, Trump also announced he would halt efforts to relieve sanctions on Iran. He suggested that Iranian leadership should adopt a more cooperative stance, saying, “You often get more with HONEY than you do with VINEGAR.”
Despite early reports suggesting that the damage to Iran’s nuclear program was minimal, U.S. intelligence officials have since confirmed that the strikes significantly set back Iran’s nuclear capabilities. CIA Director John Ratcliffe indicated that it would take years for Iran to rebuild its facilities.
Looking ahead, Trump mentioned that any future negotiations with Iran would include demands for the country to surrender any enriched uranium and cease its uranium production. He also expressed the expectation that Iran would allow international inspections to ensure compliance.
However, Iran’s parliament has taken steps to suspend inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and Iranian officials have indicated they might reject requests for access to nuclear sites.
As tensions remain high, both sides seem to be at an impasse, complicating the possibility of future negotiations regarding Iran’s nuclear program.