President Trump publicly promised Iran Wednesday that he would bring the country’s nuclear project to an end — one way or another.
“I would much prefer a strong, verified deal,” the president told syndicated radio host Hugh Hewitt about the prospect of a revised nuclear agreement with Tehran.
“Well, we could actually blow ’em up. Blow ’em up, or just de-nuke ’em,” the 78-year-old added, referring to the theocracy’s atomic sites. “But there are only two alternatives, blow ’em up nicely or blow ’em up viciously.”
Trump pulled the US out of the Obama-era Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2018, but has been trying to come to a diplomatic understanding with Iran to halt the development of its nuclear program during his second term.
Three rounds of talks have taken place, mediated by the government of Oman and involving Trump’s special Mideast envoy, Steve Witkoff.
A fourth session, scheduled to take place in Rome this past weekend, was canceled for “logistical reasons.”
In an interview with NBC News’ “Meet The Press” Sunday, Trump insisted that he will only accept “total dismantlement” of Iran’s nuclear program — because otherwise “the world will be destroyed.”
Iranian leaders have insisted its nuclear program is for civilian uses only, an argument that the US and its allies have met with skepticism.
“You know, civilian energy often leads to military wars,” Trump pointed out Sunday. “And we don’t want them to have a nuclear weapon.” --->READ MORE HERE
Congressional Republicans are circulating a letter calling for Iran‘s nuclear program to be fully dismantled as the Trump administration gives mixed messages on the purpose of its negotiations.
Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Pete Ricketts (R-NE), both members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, plan to send a letter to the White House expressing support for negotiations that lead Iran to “permanently give up any capacity for enrichment,” according to Jewish Insider.
The Washington Examiner confirmed the letter began circulating to Senate offices on Wednesday afternoon. Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX), the chairman of the Republican Study Committee, is sharing a companion letter in the House.
President Donald Trump has committed to “full dismantlement,” reiterating on Wednesday that the United States will destroy Iran’s centrifuges “nicely,” through a deal, or “viciously,” through a military strike. But his administration has at other times signaled a softer stance.
Vice President JD Vance said at a defense conference on Wednesday that Iran could keep its “civil nuclear power.” Steve Witkoff, Trump’s chief envoy to the Middle East, also appeared to suggest Iran could keep some enrichment capacity last month before dismissing the possibility a day later.
The letter seeks to reinforce the hawkish position taken on Iran in Trump’s first term, blaming former President Joe Biden for dropping his “maximum pressure campaign.” It simultaneously argues that inspectors would be unable to verify new limits on enrichment due to the “breadth of Iran’s nuclear buildout,” citing a February report by the International Atomic Energy Agency. --->READ MORE HERE
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