INA-Follow-up
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the core of any agreement with Iran is that it will not possess a nuclear weapon, noting that the Lebanese file is somewhat different but linked to Iran.
Speaking at a press conference at the White House, Trump said he had spoken with (Israeli) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hezbollah, adding that progress had been made in what he described as a decades-long conflict.
Trump said Hezbollah had contacted the United States, asking about a ceasefire in the fighting, adding that the Lebanese file was “somewhat different” but remained connected to Iran.
He devoted much of his remarks to the Iran conflict, reiterating that Tehran “will never obtain a nuclear weapon.”
Regarding enriched uranium, Trump said: “We discussed sending Special Forces to retrieve nuclear materials from Iran, but I did not want to find myself in a situation similar to Jimmy Carter.”
He added: “We are monitoring Iranian nuclear sites from space, and anyone approaching them will be dealt with accordingly.”
Trump said the United States “will win the war with Iran, either through negotiations or otherwise, but we will certainly prevail.”
He said he was not seeking to meet Iran’s Supreme Leader, but added he could meet him “if an agreement is reached.”
On the points under negotiation with Iran, Trump said the most important was that “the Strait of Hormuz would be opened immediately.”
