The US president indicated that he wouldn’t allow exceptions for civilian industry
President Trump stated that he desires Iran to completely eliminate its nuclear program, amidst the postponement of negotiations between the two nations.
During an interview on NBC’s Meet the Press, Kristen Welker questioned the president on whether his aim was to limit or entirely abolish Iran’s nuclear program.
Trump responded, “Total dismantlement. Yes, that is all I would accept,” and questioned why Iran needed nuclear technology for electricity, stating, “They have so much oil – why do they need it? … Civilian [nuclear] energy often leads to military wars. And we don’t want them to have a nuclear weapon. It’s a very simple deal,”
Trump further commented, “I just don’t want them to have a nuclear weapon because the world will be destroyed,”
These statements came after Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al-Busaidi announced the indefinite postponement “for logistical reasons” of the fourth round of indirect talks with Iran, which were being mediated by Oman, and originally scheduled for Saturday.
The negotiations, which both sides had previously described as constructive, have been affected by rising tensions in Yemen, where the US and Britain have increased airstrikes against Houthi rebels.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged retaliation following a Houthi ballistic missile strike near Ben Gurion Airport outside Tel Aviv on Sunday, which injured eight individuals. The Houthis claimed their target was a “comprehensive air blockade” of Israel, expressing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Iran refuted claims of directing the Houthi attacks, dismissing them as “misleading.”
During his presidency, Trump withdrew the US from the 2015 UN-backed agreement regarding Iran’s nuclear program, accusing Iran of secretly violating the accord. Iran denied these accusations but has since reduced its adherence to the deal’s commitments and has increased its enriched uranium stockpile.
Last month, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi asserted that Iran would resist any “pressure and threat” from the US.
“`