President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Iran, declaring 'If we don't get Iran nuclear disarmament, we will go in' while speaking aboard Air Force One. Trump reiterated his firm stance that 'Iran will never have a nuclear weapon' and claimed the US had achieved a 'total military victory' against Tehran. The President emphasized that 'the last thing we need right now is a war' but made clear that military options remain on the table if diplomatic efforts fail. Trump also revealed that the US 'may get it at the right time' regarding Iran's enriched nuclear material, indicating continued pressure on Tehran's nuclear program.
Trump provided detailed assessments of Iran's military capabilities, stating that Iran's missile-making capacity was '80%-85% gone' and that the US retains the capability to strike Iranian bridges and electrical infrastructure sites if required. The President claimed the US had achieved a 'total military victory' against Tehran, though he acknowledged that 'the last thing we need right now is a war'. These assessments come as part of the ongoing diplomatic push to curb Iran's nuclear ambitions, with Trump maintaining that military action remains an option if negotiations fail to achieve disarmament.
The White House said Trump and Xi had agreed during talks in Beijing on the need to keep the Strait of Hormuz shipping lane open. Iran effectively shut the waterway in response to U.S.-Israeli attacks which began on February 28, causing an unprecedented disruption to global energy supplies. According to Bloomberg, China is close to Iran and the main buyer of its oil, making Beijing's position crucial in any resolution. In the latest incidents on the trade route, an Indian cargo vessel carrying livestock from Africa to the UAE was sunk on Wednesday in waters off the coast of Oman, highlighting the ongoing security challenges in the region. However, Iran has since reopened the critical oil shipping route, signalling a possible move towards de-escalation, although American naval presence in the region continues.
Trump revealed that he and Xi 'agree on trade very much' and added that US farmers 'will be happy with the deal made with China.' However, he clarified that tariffs were not discussed during the latest interaction. The two leaders also discussed denuclearisation and artificial intelligence cooperation, with Trump saying they 'talked about possibly working together on AI' and adding that the US and China could cooperate on establishing 'AI guardrails.' Trump further announced he is planning to visit China in November, indicating continued diplomatic engagement between the two nations.
The issue of the remaining nuclear material — estimated to be around 970 pounds, an amount that would take weeks to remove — has been a point of emphasis for Israel, which has assisted the US in the bombing campaign against Iran. As reported by Bloomberg, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an interview with CBS News that aired Sunday the conflict wouldn't be over until the material was removed. 'I'm not going to give a timetable to it, but I'm going to say that's a terrifically important mission,' Netanyahu said. The material's removal remains crucial for Israel's security interests in the region, with the current diplomatic push potentially offering a resolution to this long-standing concern.
