US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon after concerns were raised around Tehran’s nuclear program and added that instead, he would prefer a verified nuclear peace agreement.
Through his account on Social Truth, Trump refuted a report claiming that the US is working in conjunction with Israel to blow Iran into smithereens and called it “greatly exaggerated.”
“I want Iran to be a great and successful Country, but one that cannot have a Nuclear Weapon. Reports that the United States, working in conjunction with Israel, is going to blow Iran into smithereen ‘ARE GREATLY EXAGGERATED.’ I would much prefer a Verified Nuclear Peace Agreement, which will let Iran peacefully grow and prosper. We should start working on it immediately, and have a big Middle East Celebration when it is signed and completed. God Bless the Middle East!” Trump said in a post.
Earlier, Trump signed an order reinstating a “maximum pressure” policy on Iran, that includes efforts to drive its oil exports down to zero in order to stop Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
After this, Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araqchi said, “If the main concern is that Iran should not pursue nuclear weapons, this is achievable and not a complicated issue. Iran’s position is clear: it is a member of the Non Proliferation Treaty, and the Supreme Leader’s fatwa has already clarified our stance [against weapons of mass destruction].”
“Maximum pressure is a failed experience and trying it again will lead to another failure,” Reuters quoted him saying.
Trump’s initial “maximum pressure” campaign began during his presidency after withdrawing from the international nuclear agreement, which had previously eased sanctions on Iran in exchange for nuclear programme restrictions.
Subsequently, Iran increased uranium enrichment to 60% purity, approaching the 90% weapons-grade level, as reported to Reuters by the UN nuclear watchdog chief in December.
On Wednesday, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson dismissed allegations about plans to kill US officials as “fabrications by warmongers,” stating that Iran sought legal justice for its slain officials.
This includes Quds Force Commander Qassem Soleimani, who died in a 2020 US air strike. These statements followed Trump’s Tuesday declaration that Iran would face obliteration if it attempted to harm him.