President Donald Trump stated on Sunday that the main obstacle to a nuclear agreement with Iran is ensuring that the country cannot acquire a nuclear weapon, including through external purchases. This marks a shift from his earlier focus on preventing Iran from developing nuclear capabilities. In an interview on NBC’s Meet the Press, Trump claimed that U.S. negotiators are close to finalizing a deal and that Iran has conceded it will not be able to develop a nuclear weapon.
Trump emphasized the need for a clause in the agreement that prohibits Iran from purchasing a nuclear weapon to eliminate any potential loopholes. He expressed concern that a previous clause only addressed development, stating, "I want to put the word, if they buy or purchase or acquire, they’ve got to have that in there too because that’s not developing."
Dismantling Iran’s nuclear program has been a priority for Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, although negotiations have repeatedly stalled. Trump noted that reaching an agreement and relinquishing nuclear ambitions is challenging for Iran, attributing the prolonged negotiations to previous U.S. administrations allowing Iran to act without significant consequences.