"Will do what I have to do": Trump says preventing Iranian nuclear weapon "supersedes" depression risk
Washington DC, June 23
US President Donald Trump on Monday said he would take necessary action if Iran fails to adhere to any agreement following the conclusion of the initial round of technical talks in Switzerland, stressing that preventing Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon is more important than concerns over global economic fallout, including the risk of a worldwide depression.
Speaking during the signing ceremony of two Executive Orders on quantum technology at the White House Oval Office, Trump said enforcement measures would be taken if Iran did not comply with its commitments.
"If Iran doesn't live up to their agreement, or if they're not behaving, I will do what I have to do," Trump told reporters.
He added that continued cooperation from Tehran would ensure stability, saying, "As long as they respect us, we are not going to have any trouble."
Addressing concerns about the potential global economic impact of military action on Iran, Trump rejected the suggestion that such steps could trigger a depression.
"Well, not the way I'm doing it. It's not going to cause depression," he said.
The US President further argued that nuclear proliferation posed a more severe threat than economic downturns.
"If they don't abide by -- well, nuclear weapons supersede depression," Trump said. "Depression is real bad... a nuclear weapon will cause depression much more quickly."
Trump reiterated that military options remain on the table if Iran does not comply with any eventual agreement, underscoring his administration's hard stance on preventing nuclear escalation.
His remarks come after he reiterated Vice President JD Vance's assertion that Iran is prepared to accept extensive weapons inspections as part of ongoing diplomatic efforts following recent talks between the two sides in Switzerland under the 14-point memorandum of understanding (MoU).
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Iran would agree to stringent inspections aimed at ensuring transparency regarding its nuclear activities.
"Everybody is fully aware that Iran will agree to have Major Weapons Inspections in order to ensure 'Nuclear Honesty' long into the future," Trump wrote in his post.
Earlier, Vance described the latest round of US-Iran negotiations in Switzerland as productive and expressed optimism about the progress made during the discussions.
Speaking to reporters at the Burgenstock resort in Switzerland, Vance said the talks had laid the groundwork for a potential agreement between the two countries.
"We laid a very good foundation for a successful final deal," Vance said, adding that the negotiations had established mechanisms related to regional stability and Tehran's nuclear oversight.
The Vice President also claimed that Iran had agreed to allow nuclear inspectors into the country, describing the move as a significant step toward ensuring that Tehran would not develop nuclear weapons.
However, Iran has pushed back against those claims.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said Tehran's engagement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) would continue under existing safeguards obligations and in accordance with decisions taken by Iran's Parliament and the Supreme National Security Council.
Speaking to Iran's state-run news agency IRNA, Baqaei said, "Iran's interactions with the Agency, in accordance with Iran's obligations under the Safeguards Agreements, will continue according to existing procedures and comply with the laws enacted by the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Majlis) and the decisions of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC)."
— ANI
Reader Comments
Interesting how Trump says "nuclear weapons supersede depression." But who decides when a country is "not behaving"? This is the same logic used to justify wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. India should stay neutral in this mess and focus on our own security. 🇮🇳
Look, I understand America's concern about Iran getting nukes, but threatening military action while claiming it won't cause depression is delusional. War always creates economic chaos. India should use our diplomatic channels to talk sense into both sides. Mat bhi karo ladai.
Trump's "respect us" line is so telling. It's not about nuclear security, it's about American ego. Iran has every right to peaceful nuclear energy like India does. The real issue is the US wanting to control who gets what technology. Hypocrisy much? 🙄
As an Indian, I'm watching this closely. Our PM Modi has good relations with both US and Iran. We should mediate if possible. But let's be real - Trump's track record on "deals" is shaky. Remember North Korea? He met Kim Jong Un, nothing changed. Same will happen here.
Trump says "nuclear weapons supersede depression" - but world depression leads to wars, unemployment, and suffering for billions. India especially will be hit hard if global trade collapses. Why can't America just use diplomacy properly instead of sabre-rattling? Very bad leadership.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.