US President Donald Trump has asserted that Iran will never acquire a nuclear weapon, warning that if it did, Tehran would use it within just one hour. The statement came as the US and Iran work toward a long-term peace deal following months of conflict that disrupted global markets and air travel.
Trump's warning and context
Speaking amid ongoing negotiations between Israel and Lebanon, with Washington facilitating the talks, Trump said: "We had to act against Iran because its possession of a nuclear weapon means the demise of Israel and the Middle East and endangering the world." According to Al Jazeera, Trump added: "Iran will not possess nuclear weapons and has agreed to that 100%. If Iran had a nuclear weapon, they would have used it within the first hour, and we will not allow that to happen."
The US and Iran were embroiled in a conflict that began after joint US-Israeli attacks on several key Iranian sites on 28 February. The conflict unsettled global markets, impacted air travel, and caused extensive disruptions across the Middle East.
Peace agreement and key terms
Following months of conflict, the US and Iran reached a peace agreement that includes reopening the crucial Strait of Hormuz and ensuring Iran disposes of its enriched uranium reserves, which could be used to develop nuclear weapons. On 17 June, the two nations signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to end the war within 60 days.
Washington and Tehran are now striving to secure a long-term peace deal to conclude the war, restore global shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, and resolve the ongoing dispute over Iran's nuclear programme. Many observers note that the agreement represents substantial US concessions to Iran, including allowing it to retain its ballistic missiles, but the US has succeeded in preventing the development of an Iranian nuclear weapon.
Main aspects of the MoU
- Iran and the US agree to an immediate and permanent end to the war on all fronts as soon as the MoU was signed.
- Both nations will respect each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity and refrain from interfering in each other's internal affairs.
- Iran and the US will negotiate and reach a final agreement within a maximum of 60 days, extendable by mutual consent.
- The US will lift the naval blockade against Iran and restore traffic within 30 days to full capacity as soon as the MoU was signed.
- Iran will ensure the movement of merchant ships from the Persian Gulf to the Sea of Oman and vice versa resumes within 30 days to pre-war volume.
- The US, together with its regional partners, will create a plan for the rehabilitation and economic development of Iran, agreed upon by both parties.
- The US will end all types of sanctions against Iran.
- Iran will never produce nuclear weapons.
- Both nations will maintain the status quo pending a final agreement.
- The US will immediately issue waivers for exports of Iranian crude oil, petrochemical products, and related services until sanctions are lifted.
- The US will release frozen or restricted funds and assets of Iran as negotiations progress.
- An implementation mechanism will oversee the successful implementation of the final agreement.
- The final agreement will be approved through a binding resolution of the UN Security Council.
Iranian President Pezeshkian signed the agreement aimed at ending the Iran-US conflict, marking a significant step toward de-escalation in the region.
