WASHINGTON — 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.”
Vice President JD Vance stressed earlier Wednesday that the US believes that “there is a deal here that would really bring Iran into the global economy.
“That would be really good for the Iranian people, but would result in the complete cessation of any chance that they can get a nuclear weapon. That’s what we’re negotiating towards,” Vance said in his remarks at the Munich Leaders Conference.
“As the President has said, that’s Option A and Option B — if Option A is very good for the Iranian people and even, you know, some of the folks, the leadership in Iran — option B is very bad. It’s very bad for everybody, and it’s not what we want, but it’s better than option C, which is Iran getting a nuclear weapon. That is what is completely off the table for the American administration. No ifs, ands, or buts.”
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