US President Donald Trump has said the US is “not looking for a ceasefire,” but rather a “real end” to the conflict over Iran’s nuclear program, and that, after two months of talks in which Iran refused to dismantle its programme, he is “not in the mood to negotiate.”
The remarks from Trump came as the US has repositioned warships and military aircraft in the region to respond if the conflict between Israel and Iran further escalates.
Trump arrived at the White House early Tuesday after attending the G7 summit at a decisive moment in his presidency. Israel has done considerable damage to Iran and believes it can now deal a permanent blow to Tehran’s nuclear programme, especially if it has US help.
But increased American involvement could drive Iran to target American forces in the region, and some influential parts of Trump’s base have been vocally opposed to his support for Israel’s strikes thus far.
“Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, it’s very simple,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One during his overnight flight back to Washington from Canada.
“They should have done the deal. I told them, do the deal,” he said. “So I don’t know. I’m not too much in the mood to negotiate.”
“Simply stated, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON,” he wrote on social media. “I said it over and over again! Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!”
Asked about his evacuation comments aboard Air Force One, Trump told reporters that “I just want people to be safe.”
He also insisted French President Emmanuel Macron was wrong to say the US was working on a ceasefire. “We’re looking at better than a ceasefire. We’re not looking for a ceasefire,” Trump said.
Trump said he wasn’t ruling out a diplomatic option, and he could send Vice President JD Vance and special envoy Steve Witkoff to meet with the Iranians.
He also dismissed congressional testimony from US National Intelligence director Tulsi Gabbard, who told lawmakers in March that US spy agencies did not believe Iran was building a nuclear weapon. “I don’t care what she said,” Trump said. “I think they were very close to having it.”
Since launching its attacks on Friday, Israel has targeted multiple Iranian nuclear programme sites but has not been able to destroy Iran’s Fordo uranium enrichment facility, The Times of Israel newspaper said.
Israel’s own defenscs remain largely intact in the face of Iran’s retaliatory strikes, but some of Tehran’s missiles are getting through and having deadly impact.
