Trump Says Iran Understands It Will Never Have a Nuclear Weapon Ahead of Netanyahu Visit
Key Takeaways
- •Trump said Iran understands it will never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon and indicated any agreement would need to be made formal.
- •Trump said he would prefer to avoid strikes on power plants and bridges while discussing possible military options.
- •Netanyahu was in Washington for his first face-to-face meeting with Trump since the U.S.-Israel military campaign against Iran.
- •The talks are expected to cover Iran, regional security issues including Lebanon, Hezbollah and Syria, and efforts to expand the Abraham Accords.
- •Trump also said new tariffs would not hurt the economy and said he does not want to update the USMCA.
President Donald Trump said on Fox News that Iran “understands he will never have a nuclear weapon.” He added that “Pickaxe Mountain is not a big problem” and said, “They know exactly what is going on.”
Trump also said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “wants to stay involved in Iran” and described the moment as “a good time for Iran to make a deal.” He said, “The US is in a very strong position right now.”
On military options, Trump said, “I would like to avoid hitting power plants and bridges.” He also said Iran has “essentially agreed not to have a nuclear weapon, but have to make a formal.”
The comments come as Netanyahu is in Washington for a White House meeting that will be their first face-to-face meeting since the U.S.-Israel military campaign against Iran. The timing gives the talks added weight, with the agenda expected to center on Iran’s nuclear program, the aftermath of the campaign, and whether diplomacy or additional pressure should follow.
Turning to maritime issues, Trump said Iran does not control the Strait of Hormuz. “We want to get ships through the Strait, but only the ships we want to get through,” he said.
Trump also addressed trade, saying new tariffs will not hurt the economy and that “Tariffs have saved General Motors.” He said he does not want to update the USMCA, adding, “I assume he means he wants individual deals with each country.” He also said the USMCA is important for Canada and Mexico but not the US.
Beyond Iran, the two leaders are also expected to discuss regional security, including Lebanon, Hezbollah, Syria, and broader Middle East security issues. Another topic is the Abraham Accords, with discussions expected to focus on ways to expand normalization agreements with additional Arab countries, while Saudi Arabia remains a long-term objective.
Domestic politics are also expected to feature in the talks. Netanyahu is seeking to strengthen ties with Trump ahead of Israel’s upcoming election, while both leaders are managing political pressures at home.
In addition to the White House meeting, Netanyahu is expected to attend the memorial service for Senator Lindsey Graham in Washington, along with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
As the morning session progressed, the Nasdaq was still implying a decline of 300 points. The S&P 500 was down about 8 points, while the Dow was up 444 points.
The 2-year Treasury yield was down 2.5 basis points at 4.297%, while the 10-year yield was down 1.4 basis points at 4.626%. Later at 1 p.m., the US Treasury was scheduled to auction 7-year notes.