US President Donald Trump reiterated a hardline stance that Iran must not be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons, citing serious security risks to the Middle East, Israel, and Europe. while rejecting Iran’s latest proposal as “unacceptable and warning that all options,” including renewed military strikes remain under consideration.
Trump issued a warning on Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, arguing that any nuclear capability in Iran would pose an immediate and far-reaching global threat and destabilize an already volatile region.
“You cannot give Iran a nuclear weapon. They would use it on a place called Israel very quickly, and then the Middle East, and Europe. I guess we’d be next,” Trump said in The Forum Club of the Palm Beaches Dinner.
He further claimed that US actions had already significantly weakened Iran’s military capabilities, referring to past military operations including “Operation Midnight Hammer” involving B-2 Spirit bombers.”
“We stopped them with the B2 bombers. If we didn’t do that, they would’ve had a nuclear weapon. Israel, the Middle East, and Europe would have been blown to pieces.”
Trump described Iran’s current military strength as severely degraded, asserting, “We’ve taken their air forces. It’s nonexistent. It’s gone. We’ve taken their Navy. They had a very strong Navy. They had the strongest Navy, by far, in the Middle East, many times over. They have 159 ships. Every single ship is at the bottom of the sea right now. They have no anti-aircraft capacity. They have no radar.”
He also alleged significant losses among Iran’s military leadership, calling the country’s defense structure “decimated.”
Pointing to the killings of several top leaders including Iranian Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the attack, He said, ” They have no leaders. Actually, their leaders are all gone, too.”
“We don’t know who the hell we’re dealing with. He even mocked Iran’s leadership, saying “They call up, this is Mohammed so-and-so. And I say, are you a leader? We’re looking for a leader. It’s the only country in the world , nobody wants to be a leader. You know, they say, would anybody like to be President? And there are no takers.”
On diplomatic efforts, Trump expressed skepticism over ongoing negotiations, stating that Iran was not offering an acceptable deal. He emphasized that the United States would not agree to any arrangement that could allow future conflict or renewed nuclear risk.
“They’re not coming through with the kind of deal that we have to have,” he said. “We’re going to get this thing done properly.” Trump also linked the situation to global economic stability, particularly energy markets, arguing that oil and fuel prices would ease once tensions are resolved. He maintained that preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons remains essential to international security and long-term regional stability.
Trump said recent communications with Iran had failed to produce meaningful progress.
“We just had a conversation with Iran, let’s see what happens. But I would say that I am not happy,” he said. “They’re asking for things that I can’t agree to.”
Iran reportedly submitted its updated proposal through mediators, but key details remain unclear. The negotiations have been complicated by disputes over Iran’s nuclear ambitions and demands related to regional issues, including maritime access in strategic waterways.
Trump reiterated that Iran must abandon any pursuit of nuclear weapons, while also suggesting that military options remain firmly on the table if diplomacy fails.
“There are the options: Do you want to go blast the hell out of ’em and finish them forever, or do we want to try and make a deal? I mean, those are the options,” he said, adding that he would “prefer not” to pursue further strikes “on a human basis.”
Trump suggested the conflict could be nearing a turning point and said that “Iranian leadership appears to be fragmented and unable to present a unified negotiating position.”
