Trump: If Iran Does Not Abandon Its Nuclear Weapons Program, Israel Will Lead Potential Attack

The President of the United States says that if the Islamic Republic does not abandon its nuclear weapons program, Israel will take the lead in a potential military attack against Iran. Donald Trump made these remarks three days before a scheduled meeting this weekend between American and Iranian officials in Oman. On Wednesday, April 20, he added, "If military action is needed, we will take that action. Israel will clearly have a serious role in this matter. They will lead the attack. But no one is directing us; we will do what we want to do." Mr. Trump stated that he does not have a definitive timeline for achieving results in the negotiations expected on April 23 in Oman. The U.S. President emphasized, "When you start negotiations, you have to see if they are going well or not. And I think the result will be that they are not going well. So this is just a feeling." In recent weeks, he warned Tehran that it would be better to enter negotiations with Washington to reach a new agreement regarding its nuclear program; otherwise, it would face secondary sanctions and "would be bombed." Mr. Trump had said last December that he sent a letter to Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, proposing dialogue. Iranian officials at that time stated that Tehran would not enter negotiations under pressure and threats. However, Tehran eventually agreed to negotiate in Oman with Trump's special envoy for the Middle East. The U.S. increasingly worries about Iran's uranium stockpiles, which, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency, contain materials necessary for enrichment at 90% and the construction of several nuclear weapons. Tehran claims it has no plans to build a nuclear weapon and that its nuclear program's goals are "peaceful." Nevertheless, Ali Larijani, an advisor to the Supreme Leader, stated on April 11 that if the U.S. or Israel takes military action against Iran, "the people will push back," and building a nuclear bomb "will gain secondary justification." The United States and other global powers reached a long-term and comprehensive nuclear agreement known as the JCPOA in July 2015, which limited Iran's uranium enrichment in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. However, Mr. Trump withdrew the U.S. from the nuclear agreement in 2018, calling it "the worst deal in history." The U.S. President continued on Wednesday, "I want Iran to be great. The only thing they cannot have is a nuclear weapon. They know this." Hours before these remarks, Masoud Pezeshkian, the President of Iran, reiterated that Tehran "is not seeking to build a nuclear bomb" and even considered the prospect of direct American investment in the Islamic Republic if countries reach a positive agreement. Mr. Pezeshkian, referring to the Supreme Leader, stated that Ali Khamenei "has no objection to American investment in Iran." Iran and the U.S. held indirect negotiations during Joe Biden's presidency in 2021 aimed at reviving the JCPOA in Vienna. However, these talks and other negotiations between Tehran and European countries failed to reach any agreement. Meanwhile, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed new sanctions on Iran's nuclear program on Wednesday. Five entities and one individual based in Iran have been added to the sanctions list for supporting Tehran's nuclear program.