US President Donald Trump has said the United States does not need a negotiated agreement with Iran to gain access to the country’s enriched uranium, while leaving open the possibility of meeting Iran’s Supreme Leader if a deal is reached.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office and later in media interviews, Trump outlined his position on Iran, regional security, the Ukraine war, Lebanon, and US trade relations with India.
Trump said Washington could obtain Iran’s enriched uranium even without reaching a formal agreement with Tehran.
“We could get it right now. I don't think they could stop us if we wanted, but there's no reason to. It's entombed,” Trump told reporters.
He added that the United States can act even without a negotiated settlement and stressed that details of a possible agreement with Iran would be revealed soon.
According to Trump, the bottom line of any agreement remains unchanged: Iran must never possess nuclear weapons. “One thing is clear that Iran will not be able to have nuclear weapons,” he said.
Iran different from Venezuela
The US president said Iran should not be compared to Venezuela, arguing that the geopolitical and military realities are very different.
“Iran is not Venezuela, where we can go in one day and come back victorious. The situation here is different,” Trump said.
He reiterated that nuclear materials could be removed from Iran if Washington chose to do so, but insisted there was currently no need for such action.
Warning over attacks on US forces
Trump warned that any attacks on American troops could lead to another military confrontation. “Iran killed our soldiers, which could be a reason for returning to war,” he said.
The president maintained that regardless of whether the dispute is resolved through military action or diplomacy, the United States would emerge victorious.
“In any case, victory will be ours in the conflict with Iran,” Trump stated.
He also said the US is closely monitoring Iranian nuclear facilities from space and warned that Washington would respond to anyone attempting to approach those sites.
“We are monitoring Iranian nuclear sites from space,” Trump said. “We will deal with anyone who comes close to Iranian nuclear sites.”
Possible meeting with Iran’s Supreme Leader
Trump said he does not currently wish to meet Iran’s Supreme Leader, identified in the report as Mojtaba Khamenei, but acknowledged that a meeting could happen if it helps secure an agreement.
“I have no desire to meet the Iranian Supreme Leader,” Trump said.
However, he added that if such a meeting became necessary to finalize a deal, he would be willing to do so. “If it happened, I'd be respectful,” Trump remarked.
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He further said there was “no problem” with meeting the Supreme Leader if the objective was reaching an agreement, though he joked that he would probably not be a favorite of Khamenei.
Strait of Hormuz, nuclear restrictions
Trump said a future agreement would ensure that Iran cannot obtain nuclear weapons and suggested that the Strait of Hormuz would reopen immediately under such an arrangement.
“The bottom line of the deal is that Iran cannot have nuclear weapons,” he said.
He also noted that the public would soon learn the details of the proposed agreement.
The US president made a series of strong claims regarding Iran’s military and political structure. “We have eliminated Iran’s leadership, navy and air force,” Trump said.
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He also claimed that Iran no longer had effective leadership or senior military commanders, though he did not provide additional details.
“Iran has no leadership, no generals,” he stated.
Ukraine war requires reconciliation
Turning to the war in Ukraine, Trump said reconciliation remains necessary to end the conflict. He welcomed the possibility of a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“It is good if the two leaders meet,” Trump said.
According to the president, direct dialogue between Moscow and Kyiv would be a positive step toward ending the war.
Optimistic about peace in Lebanon
Trump also addressed developments in Lebanon, saying he believed peace would eventually be achieved there. “I am sure that peace will be achieved in Lebanon,” he said.
The president noted that the situation in Lebanon still requires close monitoring and revealed that discussions had taken place with Hezbollah regarding developments in the country.
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“We will have to keep an eye on the situation in Lebanon,” Trump added.
Sharp criticism of India over trade
Trump also criticized India’s trade practices, arguing that New Delhi had benefited from the United States for years. “Everyone knows how much India has taken advantage of America,” he said.
He argued that previous American leaders allowed the situation to continue, saying, “There were stupid people sitting in America, so India took advantage.”
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Trump accused India of imposing high tariffs while failing to create sufficient economic opportunities for the United States. “India imposed a lot of tariffs and did not build anything here,” he said.
Despite the criticism, Trump expressed optimism that a trade agreement between Washington and New Delhi could be reached soon.
“A trade deal with India is possible soon,” the president said.
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