Trump says Iran wants nuclear deal with US
Washington, May 23
President Donald Trump has said that Iran was eager to reach a deal with the United States but warned that Washington would continue to pressure Tehran because "Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon".
Trump made the remarks on Friday at the White House during the swearing-in ceremony of new Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh, where he mixed economic messaging with comments on national security and America's military posture.
"We have the greatest military in the world," the US President said while discussing his administration's economic and defence policies.
Referring to Iran, Trump added, "Iran is dying to make a deal. We'll see what happens, but we hit them hard, and we had no choice because Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon."
The US President did not provide details about possible talks with Tehran or explain what actions he was referring to when he said the US had "hit them hard". But the comments reflected his continued focus on Iran's nuclear ambitions and the broader US strategy of military and economic pressure.
Trump linked American military strength with what he described as a broader national revival driven by manufacturing investment, tariffs and economic growth.
"We're going to be submitting a military budget for $1.5 trillion," he said.
He also added that the United States was witnessing unprecedented investment and industrial expansion.
"We're building factories, car plants, everything, AI, everything all over the country," Trump said.
"Nobody's ever seen anything like it."
Trump added that economic growth and military power were closely connected.
He said tariffs had helped bring manufacturing back to the United States and claimed the country had secured "$18 trillion being invested in the United States" during the first 11 months of his administration.
The US President also referenced a conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping while discussing US military capabilities.
"I was with President Xi, and I said to him, 'We have the greatest military in the world'," Trump said.
The remarks came as the Trump administration continues to frame Iran's nuclear programme as one of the top threats facing US' national security.
Trump has repeatedly said Tehran must never acquire a nuclear weapon and has linked that position to broader US efforts to strengthen military readiness and expand defence spending.
--IANS
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— IANS
Reader Comments
"Iran is dying to make a deal" - classic Trump rhetoric. But let's be real, the US under his administration has been anything but consistent with Iran policy. India has always advocated dialogue and diplomacy. We should hope cooler heads prevail rather than this sabre-rattling.
As someone who follows US-India relations closely, I find Trump's bravado troubling. India has historically had good ties with Iran - our Chabahar port deal shows we need to balance relationships. Hope Washington doesn't force us to choose sides yet again.
$1.5 trillion military budget and bragging about the greatest military while talking about Iran? This is classic US exceptionalism. India should stay clear of such posturing. Our foreign policy should be based on our own interests, not whatever drama is unfolding in Washington.
Honestly, Trump's approach to Iran is chaotic at best. "Hit them hard" but offer no specifics? India needs to ensure our energy imports from Iran aren't disrupted by US sanctions. We already paid a heavy price when the previous Trump admin ended waivers. Not again please. 🙏
Trump's comments about Xi Jinping and bragging about US military are typical - he loves his grandstanding. But for India, Iran is not just about nukes. It's about connectivity to Central Asia through Chabahar, energy security, and balancing Pakistan's influence. Hope our diplomats are watching this closely.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.