US President Donald Trump Claims Iran Has Effectively Abandoned Nuclear Program
US President Donald Trump claimed Iran has effectively abandoned its nuclear weapons program following months of pressure, contrasting with his previous skeptical remarks.
United States President Donald Trump claimed that Iran has "effectively abandoned" plans to develop nuclear weapons, following months of war, sanctions, and intense American pressure on Tehran. The remarks were made as Trump departed the White House for a campaign rally in Ohio.
Shifts in US Stance and Oil Prices
"By the way, Iran, as you know, has effectively given up any nuclear weapons program," Trump told reporters. The president linked his remarks to falling oil prices, noting they are declining after surging in the wake of the conflict and strikes against Iran that began in late February.
This statement stands in stark contrast to comments made just days prior, when Trump expressed far greater skepticism. On September 29, he stated that he did not know if Iran was "going to give up yet," asserting that the country was performing "very poorly" in the conflict.
Ongoing Indirect Talks and IAEA Reports
Despite Trump's new assertions, no formal agreement has been published detailing a binding Iranian commitment to entirely abandon nuclear weapons development. Indirect talks between Washington and Tehran continue through Qatari and Pakistani mediation, though no breakthrough has been reported.
"Iran, as you know, has effectively given up any nuclear weapons program," said Donald Trump.
Iran continues to deny seeking a nuclear bomb, with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian previously stating that his country does not pursue nuclear arms due to religious prohibitions. Meanwhile, the International Atomic Energy Agency reported that Iran has accumulated uranium enriched up to 60 percent, remaining close to weapons-grade levels.
