US-Iran talks: Trump ties highly enriched uranium removal to deal ending war

US President Donald Trump said the US would work with Iran to remove and destroy Iran’s highly enriched uranium. Trump linked that plan to reaching a deal to end the three-month-old war between the countries. Trump said the material could be destroyed on-site or taken away. Trump made the comments in an interview on NBC News Meet the Press.

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Trump said the US could act without Iran if no agreement is reached. Trump said American forces would further weaken the Iranian military first. That step, Trump said, would allow US teams to collect fissile material safely. Trump also said US troops would stay deployed in the region until completion.

Trump Iran nuclear deal: uranium removal plan

"If we make a deal that now were friendly, well all go together. Itll be our equipment. Well take it out and destroy it, whether its on-site or whether we take it off-site,\" Trump said. Trump added that the US and Iran could work together if relations improved. Trump did not give a timeline for removal and destruction.

Trump said the draft agreement already addressed nuclear weapons limits. \"Theyve conceded the fact that they will not have nuclear weapons. We had a clause in there that they will not develop nuclear weapons. And everybody was very happy with it except me,\" Trump said. Trump said a stronger commitment was needed to block workarounds.

Trump Iran nuclear deal: clause on purchase or acquire

\"And I said, Well, what happens if they, not develop, but they go out and purchase, they acquire? I want to put the word, if they buy, purchase or acquire,\" he said. Trump said the wording must cover buying and acquiring. \"You know, youve got to have that in there, too, because thats not developing. So, they dont have the right to develop or purchase, acquire or buy,\" Trump said.

Trump said the US was close to signing a deal with Iran. Trump said the US was pressing Iran to go further. Trump said the goal was for Iran to fully abandon nuclear ambitions. Trump said he wanted stronger limits than those in the earlier clause.

Trump Iran nuclear deal: military option and sanctions stance

\"Now, if we dont make a deal, then were going to take them out militarily very harshly. And well wait till we do that before we go, in which case well have safety either way,\" he said. Trump said no sanctions would be lifted. Trump said no Iranian assets would be unfrozen upfront before a peace deal.

\"Yeah. If they behave, if they do a good job, we start talking. Yeah,\" Trump said when asked about unfreezing assets later. Trump also said Lebanon was not being asked to join any short-term deal with Tehran. Trump did not describe what role Lebanon could play later.

Trump Iran nuclear deal: talks with Mojtaba Khamanei

Trump said Iran’s new leadership appeared more rational and very smart. Trump said he was open to speaking with Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamanei. \"I would if hed like to,\" Trump said, but added that no direct contact had happened. Trump did not say if intermediaries were involved.

With inputs from PTI