United States President, Donald Trump, has expressed strong concerns that Iran’s Islamic leadership would deploy nuclear weapons if it ever gained access to them.
He made the remarks during an interview with Greta Van Susteren on Newsmax on Thursday.
“I will tell you that Iran would use the nuclear weapon if they had it. I deal with these people. I know people. They will use their nuclear weapons, and we’re not going to give them a chance to do it,” Trump said.
“We have to have guarantees they will never have a nuclear weapon,” he added.
The U.S. leader also rejected earlier proposals suggesting Iran could be allowed access to nuclear materials for civilian purposes, stating he would not support such an arrangement.
“I wouldn’t have approved that. I wouldn’t have. I’m not giving them anything. They’re going to either have a nuclear weapon, or they’re not. And if they do, they’re in big trouble.
Trump further highlighted what he described as the success of Operation Epic Fury, claiming significant damage had been inflicted on Iran’s military capabilities.
“We’ve already won, but I want to win by a bigger margin,” he said.
“We have destroyed their navy, destroyed their air force, destroyed all of their – if you look at their anti-aircraft equipment, their radar equipment, their leadership. Their leadership is destroyed. We’ve destroyed everything,” he added.
Despite these claims of military and economic setbacks for Iran, Trump maintained that such measures alone would not be sufficient without a clear and enforceable assurance preventing nuclear development. He stressed that a “firm guarantee” remains essential for achieving a lasting resolution.
According to Trump, Iran is also under intense economic strain, with its economy nearing collapse.
“Right now, their economy is collapsing, inflation is at close to 100%,” he said.
“They can’t do any oil because we have a blockade that’s 100% effective,” he added.
The president also asserted that his actions have received widespread approval globally, while criticizing allies for not taking stronger steps.
“I actually think it’s very popular what I’m doing. The world is thanking me, because I shouldn’t be the one that’s doing it. Other presidents should have done it long before me, and other countries should have done it,” he said.
However, “we were not helped by NATO at all,” he stated, referring to the NATO.
