Trump’s Iran policy has ensured Tehran 'will never have a nuclear weapon', VP says

Iranian lawmaker Meysam Zohourian on Monday cautioned against holding a formal signing ceremony for the reported US-Iran memorandum, adding that such events primarily serve media narratives rather than producing tangible outcomes.

"What ultimately remained from the Gaza peace agreement were the photos and images of the Sharm El-Sheikh summit, which portrayed Trump as the peace leader in Gaza in the media. After the Sharm El-Sheikh summit, neither did Israel's aggression against Gaza come to an end, nor was a single dollar spent in Gaza through the illusory $53 billion reconstruction fund envisioned in the agreement," Zohourian posted on X.

"I hope Mr. Dr. Qalibaf also does not accept the government's idea and proposal to attend the official signing ceremony of the agreement with Vance in Geneva, so that the image desired by the enemy of the Iranian nation is not created. Fundamentally, there is no rational necessity for the in-person signing of the memorandum of understanding," he added.

US President Donald Trump said on Monday that Iran agreed to never develop a nuclear weapon, while rejecting reports that Washington would pay Tehran $300 million as part of the arrangement.

"Iran has agreed to never have a Nuclear Weapon! Also, the story that the U.S. is paying Iran 300 million Dollars is Fake News, put out by the Dumocrats!" he posted on Truth Social.

US Vice President JD Vance said on Monday that the Trump administration expects Israel to eventually support the US-Iran agreement, even as differences remain with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the deal.

In an interview with NBC’s “Nightly News,” Vance said the agreement would ultimately improve Israel’s security and expressed confidence that Israeli leaders would “buy in” as implementation progresses.

“I think fundamentally the United States, we have our interests,” Vance added. “We also have aligned interests, but also sometimes we’re going to disagree on issues from time to time, and I think that’s totally reasonable.”

CIA Director John Ratcliffe told President Donald Trump and senior US officials that intelligence assessments raise serious doubts about Iran’s willingness to make the nuclear concessions sought by Washington in any final agreement, according to three sources familiar with the discussions, Axios reported on Monday.

"The concerns, raised during internal meetings ahead of the announcement of the US-Iran memorandum of understanding, reflect broader skepticism within parts of Trump’s national security team about whether Tehran will comply with the deal’s requirements," the report said.

Ratcliffe and Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly told colleagues they doubted Iran would agree to the nuclear steps required under the US proposal, according to two of the sources, the report added.

Former Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett said on Monday he would take an uncompromising stance against Iran if he returns to office, warning Tehran that it must be prevented from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

Speaking on Piers Morgan’s program, Bennett said Iran poses a global threat and added that its leadership must be stopped from obtaining nuclear capabilities.

“There will soon be a new government in Israel. Hopefully I will lead that government, and I want to tell the Iranian regime: I am going to be your worst nightmare ever. I won’t relent until we free the people and ensure you have no nuclear weapon. You have no hope," he said.