President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that the United States is set to resume nuclear negotiations with Iran next week, hinting at the potential for a new agreement despite having recently declared the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program “crippled” by U.S military strikes.
Speaking to reporters, Trump claimed that the recent American attacks had resulted in the “total obliteration” of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, allegedly pushing the country’s nuclear ambitions back by “decades.”
“They’re not going to be building bombs for a long time,” Trump said, emphasizing that the strikes had severely disrupted Iran’s capabilities.
However, leaked U.S intelligence reports appear to contradict Trump’s assessment, suggesting that the strikes may have delayed Iran’s program by only a few months rather than years.
The development follows a 12-day military conflict between Israel and Iran, during which Israel launched intense airstrikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites.
Iran responded with a barrage of missiles targeting its regional rival in what has become their deadliest confrontation to date.
Before a ceasefire was agreed upon on Tuesday, the United States intervened in support of Israel, deploying bunker-buster bombs to strike two key nuclear facilities in Iran, and launching a guided missile from a submarine to destroy a third.
Despite the escalation, Trump said the truce was “going very well” and that both nations appeared weary from the conflict.
“Israel and Iran are both tired, exhausted,” he said. “They had a war, they fought, now they’re going back to their world.”
Asked whether a formal agreement with Iran was imminent, Trump remained noncommittal.
“We may sign an agreement. I don’t know. I don’t care if I have an agreement or not,” he said.
Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday expressed readiness to return to the negotiating table, though he reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to its “legitimate rights” to pursue peaceful nuclear energy.
The recent conflict has taken a heavy toll on civilians.
According to Iran’s health ministry, at least 627 civilians were killed and over 4,800 injured in Israeli strikes. Iranian missile attacks on Israel reportedly resulted in 28 deaths, according to official sources and rescue agencies.
