Trump Threatens Military Action to Prevent Iran's Nuclear Ambition
The US President Donald Trump warned of potential military intervention against Iran should it attempt to develop a nuclear weapon. This comes as diplomats prepare to convene on Saturday for talks regarding the ongoing dispute about Iran’s nuclear activities.
Trump told reporters he would "absolutely" consider using military action "if necessary" during an event in the Oval Office on Wednesday. Trump added that Israel would "very much be involved, the leader of that".
The president mentioned that he had set an internal deadline for the talks to produce outcomes.
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"There isn’t much time left since we won’t allow them to possess a nuclear weapon,” Trump stated. “We aim for their prosperity; I desire for Iran to flourish. However, the sole exception is that they cannot acquire a nuclear weapon.”
High-level discussions scheduled for Oman this weekend mark the first occasion since September 2022 that the United States and Iran will engage in official nuclear negotiations.
Trump did not specify who would conduct or take part in the negotiations, but said that he saw the Saturday meeting as "a start" of the process and that he had a deadline in mind for the discussion.
Since 2015, these two nations haven't had direct interactions, following a nuclear agreement that was later abandoned by President Trump during his initial term in office.
Iranian authorities have consistently denied working towards nuclear weapons, despite claims from external monitors suggesting they could amass sufficient weapon-grade fissile material within just a few weeks.
After assuming power in January, Trump has reinstated his "maximum pressure" approach towards Iran, focusing on curbing its oil sales, financial institutions, and vital economic sectors.
Iranian authorities state that their primary objective is to obtain relief from sanctions, indicating that the talks will occur indirectly. This stance contradicts President Trump, who asserted on Monday that the United States was "engaging with them directly."
Earlier this week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his support for President Trump’s diplomatic initiatives aimed at reaching an agreement with Iran. He further stated that both Israel and the United States were committed to preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapons capability.
Nevertheless, Netanyahu spearheaded the initiatives to convince Trump to withdraw from the agreement negotiated by the United States with Iran back in 2018.
The Israeli leader, who has been vocal about his hardline stance on Iran and previously advocated for military action, expressed support for a diplomatic accord similar to the arrangement Libya made with the global community in 2003.
However, that agreement led to Libya’s former leader, Muammar Gaddafi, abandoning his entire covert nuclear program. In contrast, Iran has maintained that its nuclear program, which is officially reported to the International Atomic Energy Agency, must be allowed to proceed.
Netanyahu stated, "I believe that would be beneficial. However, regardless of what occurs, we must ensure that Iran doesn’t acquire nuclear weapons."
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reiterated on Wednesday that his country is “not seeking a nuclear bomb” and suggested the possibility of direct U.S. investments in Iran if an agreement can be reached between the two nations.
The remarks made by the progressive leader mark a shift from Iran's position following its 2015 nuclear agreement with major global powers. After the pact, Tehran aimed to purchase aircraft from America yet effectively prevented U.S. businesses from entering the nation.
Pezeshkian stated during a speech in Tehran that his Excellency does not oppose investments from American investors in Iran," he said, referencing Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. "Welcome, American investors; please consider investing here.
Bloomberg and Associated Press
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