Casting vote, Trump wishes Iran success but rules out nuclear weapons
US presidential candidate Donald Trump said Tuesday he does not intend to do damage to Iran but remains firm that Tehran can’t have nuclear weapons.
US presidential candidate Donald Trump said Tuesday he does not intend to do damage to Iran but remains firm that Tehran can’t have nuclear weapons.
Trump made the remarks while speaking to reporters in Florida after casting his vote in the 2024 presidential election.
“My terms are very easy,” Trump said, adding that Iran "can't have nuclear weapons." "I’d like them to be a very successful country,” he added, but declined to detail specific plans for US-Iran relations should he return to office.
The candidate’s comments echo his stance during his presidency, highlighting the ongoing friction between Washington and Tehran over the latter's disputed nuclear program.
Tensions spiked in 2018 when Trump withdrew the United States from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), an agreement aimed at limiting Iran's nuclear program in exchange for economic relief.
The withdrawal led to the reimposition of US sanctions on Iran, straining the country's economy and prompting Iran to step away from its nuclear restrictions.
Though Iran insists its nuclear program remains peaceful, enrichment levels have risen significantly, alarming both the United States and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The IAEA has called on Iran to allow more inspections and transparency, while Tehran seeks sanctions relief as a condition for further diplomatic engagement.
Trump’s potential return has drawn both anticipation and concern about US-Iran relations as his approach to foreign policy, particularly on the Middle East, has been hawkish.
