US President Donald Trump has voiced his frustration with the ongoing nuclear negotiations with Iran, making it clear that while talks are ongoing, military force remains firmly on the table.
“We’re not exactly happy with the way they’re negotiating,” Trump told reporters before boarding Marine One at the White House. “They cannot have nuclear weapons. We want no nuclear weapons by Iran, and they’re not saying those golden words.”
Pressed about the possibility of military action, Trump said no final decision had been made. “We’ll see what happens,” he added, noting the risks and unpredictability that come with conflict: “When there’s war, there’s a risk of anything, both good and bad.”
Diplomacy in limbo
His comments follow another round of indirect US-Iran talks in Geneva, which ended without a breakthrough. More technical discussions are scheduled in Vienna next week, with Oman playing a mediating role. Despite the setbacks, both sides are still at the table.
Trump declined to comment on whether military action could result in regime change in Iran, saying simply, “Nobody knows.”
Meanwhile, tensions are running high, with US aircraft carrier strike groups and additional airpower still deployed in the region. Iran has warned it would retaliate against any US attack, threatening American forces and bases in the Middle East.
Nuclear monitoring in question
Adding to the uncertainty, a confidential International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report seen by the Associated Press revealed inspectors have not been allowed access to key Iranian nuclear sites since they were damaged in last year’s conflict with Israel. The IAEA says it cannot verify Iran’s recent claims that uranium enrichment has stopped.
Iran insists its nuclear program is peaceful and continues to demand sanctions relief in exchange for limits on enrichment. US intelligence currently sees no evidence that Tehran has decided to build a nuclear weapon, but concerns persist in both Washington and Israel.
Trump, who famously withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal during his first term, said he’s waiting to see how things play out—but hinted that US patience is running thin.
