Trump claims Iran never wanted nuclear deal as strikes continue

2026-03-01 - 07:32

US President Donald Trump questioned Iran's sincerity in nuclear negotiations Saturday, claiming that Tehran repeatedly came close to finalizing an agreement only to back away. Speaking to Axios, the American leader suggested that Tehran's pattern of approaching deals and then retreating indicates a lack of genuine interest in a diplomatic resolution. Trump described his recent telephone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as "great," emphasizing that the two allies remain fully aligned on their approach to Iran. "We're on the same wavelength," the president stated, underscoring the close coordination between Washington and Tel Aviv as military operations against Iranian targets continue. Military Options on the Table The US president outlined multiple scenarios for the ongoing campaign against Iran, revealing that American forces could either pursue an extended operation or conclude the strikes within a matter of days. "I can go long and take over the whole thing, or end it in two or three days and tell the Iranians: 'See you again in a few years if you start rebuilding,'" Trump explained to Axios. According to the president, the latest round of attacks would require "several years" for Tehran to recover from, particularly regarding damage inflicted on nuclear and missile development programs. Trump accused Iran of attempting to reconstruct nuclear facilities previously struck by US and Israeli forces during "Operation Midnight Hammer" in June 2025. Diplomacy Amid Strikes The military escalation, dubbed "Operation Epic Fury" by American officials, follows Thursday's nuclear talks in Geneva where both Washington and Tehran had described the atmosphere as serious and constructive under Omani mediation. Saturday's joint US-Israeli operation was launched citing alleged threats posed by the "Iranian regime," marking the second major strike on Iranian nuclear infrastructure in less than a year. Last June, American forces targeted three Iranian nuclear sites during a 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran, setting the stage for the current campaign as diplomatic efforts continue to falter despite international mediation attempts.