Trump: If We Reach an Agreement with Tehran, Israel Will Not Bomb Iran

The President of the United States says his preference is to reach an agreement with Iran rather than 'bomb it severely.' Donald Trump, in an interview with the New York Post published on Saturday, February 9, stated that if an agreement is reached, Israel will not bomb Iran. He emphasized that he does not intend to discuss potential negotiations with Tehran, adding, 'In fact, I don’t want to tell you what I’m going to say to them.' The U.S. President rejected reports about joint U.S.-Israeli military planning for an attack on Iran last week. He stated that instead of military action, he seeks to achieve a new nuclear agreement with Tehran and that work on this agreement should begin immediately. Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, who two weeks ago had warned Iranian officials to be cautious about who they 'deal' with, described negotiations with Donald Trump's administration on February 8 as neither 'wise,' nor 'intelligent,' nor 'honorable,' citing 'experience' as the reason. His reference was to the first Trump administration's withdrawal from the nuclear agreement known as the JCPOA between Iran and six world powers, which reduced Iran's oil exports, caused a spike in foreign currency prices, and placed the Islamic Republic under unprecedented economic pressure. Meanwhile, Abbas Araghchi, Iran's foreign minister, stated that the Islamic Republic is ready for negotiations but will not negotiate with the U.S. under 'maximum pressure.' He acknowledged on Saturday that sanctions are a 'major obstacle' to Iran's economic development, stating that if negotiations are conducted from a position of weakness, 'it's no longer negotiation but surrender.' Concurrently, some Islamic Republic officials claimed that Washington's policy toward Iran goes beyond the nuclear issue and aims at 'disarming the Islamic Republic.' Donald Trump, who has repeatedly expressed readiness to negotiate with the Islamic Republic, also stated on Wednesday that the U.S. is seeking a verifiable nuclear agreement with Tehran that allows the country to thrive peacefully. Trump reiterated on Wednesday that Iran should not have nuclear weapons, stating that immediate action is needed to achieve a new agreement, and when this agreement is completed and signed, 'the Middle East will celebrate.' Recently, Trump issued a note to revive 'maximum pressure' on Iran, stating that his orders in this regard are very strict, but he is willing to meet with the Iranian President to encourage Tehran to abandon its pursuit of nuclear weapons. Iranian officials have always denied intentions to build nuclear weapons, but recently some factions in Iran have discussed the 'necessity' of changing the 'doctrine' in this regard. In response to the IRGC's missile attack on Israel on October 2, Israel targeted some missile and air defense facilities of the Islamic Republic on October 27. Iranian officials stated that the Israeli attacks caused 'limited and minor damage,' but international media, citing satellite images and expert analyses, reported serious and effective damage to some military facilities, particularly Iran's defensive capabilities. Shortly after this attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that if the Islamic Republic of Iran attacks the country for the third time, its economy will be crippled. Netanyahu stated in an interview with Fox News on Sunday, February 21, that peace between Israel and Saudi Arabia will occur when it is assured that Iran does not have nuclear weapons. He expressed his belief in peace from a position of strength, stating that when they complete the change in the Middle East and weaken the Iranian axis more than they have done so far, when they are assured that Iran does not have nuclear weapons, and when Hamas is destroyed, they will create the conditions for an agreement with the Saudis and others in the Muslim world. Regarding the negotiations between Netanyahu and Trump on the issue of Iran during their meeting last Tuesday at the White House, not many details have been released. Netanyahu stated after that meeting to the Jerusalem Post that his views on Iran align with Trump's position, which emphasizes that Iran cannot have nuclear weapons and that the revival of the 'maximum pressure' policy by Trump's administration will prevent Iran from becoming nuclear. Three days after that meeting, Trump's administration informed Congress of its decision to sell an additional $7.4 billion in weapons to Israel, including heavy bombs. CENTCOM also announced that General Michael Kurilla, commander of these forces, visited Israel from February 6 to 8 and met with the Chief of Staff of the Army, the commander of military intelligence, and the heads of Mossad and Shin Bet, emphasizing deepening bilateral cooperation and increasing collaborative capabilities and continuing military relations between the two countries.