Donald Trump’s hand is about to be forced. He’s hoping it won’t come to this.
But President Trump has declared war is possible after what this foreign enemy just did.
Trump’s Firm Stance on Iran’s Nuclear Ambitions
On Friday, President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Iran, declaring that the country would not be permitted to enrich uranium, hinting at potential military action if Tehran continues its covert nuclear program.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump emphasized, “They won’t be enriching. If they enrich, then we’re going to have to do it the other way. And I don’t really want to do it the other way but we’re going to have no choice. There’s not going to be enrichment.”
Recent reports have revealed Iran’s secret efforts to expand its near weapons-grade nuclear program, escalating tensions in the region. According to Axios, Israel has assured the White House it will refrain from striking Iranian nuclear facilities unless Trump signals that diplomatic efforts with Tehran have collapsed.
This aligns with Trump’s earlier comments in a Time magazine interview marking his first 100 days in office, where he stated, “He may go into a war. But we’re not getting dragged in,” referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He added, “I may go in very willingly if we can’t get a deal. If we don’t make a deal, I’ll be leading the pack.”
Stalled Diplomacy with Iran
In May, Trump revealed he had cautioned Netanyahu against bombing Iran’s nuclear sites, citing “very good discussions” with Iranian negotiators. However, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei rejected these overtures, declaring on Wednesday that halting uranium enrichment was “100%” against Iran’s interests.
In a televised speech, he challenged U.S. authority, saying, “Who are you to decide whether Iran should have enrichment? If we had 100 nuclear power plants while not having enrichment, they are not usable for us.” Khamenei also criticized the U.S. as “arrogant” for proposing a revised nuclear deal.
The proposed agreement, presented by Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff on May 31, would have allowed limited uranium enrichment for civilian purposes.
However, the State Department clarified on Tuesday that the U.S. opposes any level of enrichment by Iran. Spokeswoman Tammy Bruce reiterated, “The fact is, President Trump tweeted that there is going to be no uranium enrichment.” Diplomatic efforts have so far yielded no progress, with five rounds of U.S.-Iran talks failing to produce a breakthrough.
Iran’s Escalating Nuclear Stockpile
Meanwhile, the International Atomic Energy Agency reported last week that Iran has significantly increased its stockpile of 60%-enriched uranium, from 274.8 kilograms to 408.6 kilograms between February and May—a nearly 50% surge.
Enrichment at 90% is considered weapons-grade, and U.S. officials have warned that Iran could produce enough material for a single nuclear weapon within two weeks. Netanyahu has urged global allies “to stop Iran,” highlighting that such enrichment levels are only suitable for “countries actively pursuing nuclear weapons.”
Renewed Sanctions
Trump has reinstated a “maximum pressure” sanctions campaign on Iran since returning to office, and European nations, aware of the UN findings, are contemplating reimposing sanctions lifted under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). That deal, which Trump withdrew from in 2018, aimed to cut Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile by 98%.
As tensions mount, the international community faces a critical juncture in addressing Iran’s nuclear ambitions, with Trump signaling a readiness to act decisively if diplomacy fails.
Stay tuned to The Federalist Wire.
