US President Donald Trump
More than a month after Operation “Epic Fury,” Donald Trump announced on Friday that major breakthroughs had been achieved in the American military mission against Iran, announcing what he described as the suspension of Tehran’s nuclear program and the reopening of the strategic Strait of Hormuz “for full passage.”
“The top MAGA said the United States would secure what he called “nuclear fallout,” which he described as enriched uranium, from Iran without any financial exchange, while stressing that one of his main goals, restoring freedom of movement through the Strait of Hormuz, had been achieved.Trump also declared that Iran’s nuclear ambitions had been effectively halted, and said that the broader agreement to end the conflict, which the United States and Israel launched against Iran in late February, was close to completion.
Speaking in a phone interview on Friday, he indicated that talks on a permanent agreement would “most likely” take place over the weekend.“We’re going to work on this together,” Trump said during a phone interview with Reuters. “We’re going to go in with Iran, at a nice, comfortable pace, and come down and start drilling with big machines… We’re going to bring it back to the United States.”He referred to “nuclear fallout” and added that it would be recovered “very soon.”
Trump’s reference to “nuclear fallout” refers to what is believed to have remained after US and Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in June last year. Iran is estimated to possess more than 900 pounds of uranium enriched to 60% purity, a level that has long been the focus of tensions in U.S.-Iran negotiations.
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While Trump has repeatedly said the war was intended to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, Tehran maintains that its uranium enrichment program is intended only for peaceful civilian purposes, such as power generation.Despite his optimism, Trump said that the United States will continue its naval blockade of Iran until a final agreement is reached.“I think the agreement will be reached very quickly,” he said. “We agree very well with Iran.”He added that further negotiations would be needed, indicating that they could take place “most likely over the weekend,” and said that he “may” travel to Islamabad after the agreement is finalized.“I did not make that decision,” he said.Trump also mentioned that Washington is working with Iran to remove mines from the Strait of Hormuz, signaling steps toward restoring stability in the vital oil transit route.In response to reports that $20 billion in cash had been allocated to uranium arrangements, Trump flatly denied the allegations.“This is completely untrue. There is no money changing hands.”
