During his State of the Union address on Tuesday, President Trump urged the Iranian government to reach an agreement on its nuclear program while weighing potential military action against the nation. “My preference is to solve this problem through diplomacy, but one thing is certain: I will never allow the world’s number one sponsor of terror, which they are by far, to have a nuclear weapon,” he stated emphatically.
The remarks come as the United States and Iran engage in indirect negotiations. Trump has indicated he may resort to military strikes if Iran does not agree to limit its nuclear activities, coinciding with the deployment of a significant fleet of U.S. naval vessels to the Middle East. Although the president has been seeking advice from his security team about a potentially impactful military response to compel Iran back to negotiations, military experts have warned that desired outcomes from such actions are not always guaranteed.
In a call with CBS News chief Washington analyst Robert Costa, Trump remained vague about his specific plans regarding Iran, stating simply, “we’ll find out” in due time. During his address, the president reflected on last summer’s U.S. strikes against three Iranian nuclear sites, asserting that Iranian leaders are once again “pursuing their sinister ambitions.”
Trump emphasized that he seeks a clear commitment from Iran to refrain from developing nuclear weapons. “They want to make a deal, but we haven’t heard those secret words: ‘We will never have a nuclear weapon,’” he noted.
In response, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reiterated that Iran is not pursuing nuclear weapons, affirming on X that “Iran will under no circumstances ever develop a nuclear weapon.” Nevertheless, Iran maintains its right to enrich uranium, characterizing its nuclear program as peaceful, even though it has enriched uranium beyond levels considered necessary for non-weapon applications in recent years.
The evolving situation underscores the complex nature of U.S.-Iran relations and the delicate balance of military and diplomatic strategies in ensuring regional stability. As both sides navigate these contentious waters, the possibility of a peaceful resolution remains a critical hope for the global community.