Trump Says Iran Conceded on Nukes, Warns Military Option Remains
President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that Iran has agreed to refrain from developing or purchasing nuclear weapons, describing the concession as a “big difference” in ongoing negotiations to end the US-Israel war on Iran. However, he warned that the military option remains on the table if talks collapse or produce an unfavorable outcome.
Speaking on “My View with Lara Trump” on Fox News, Trump revealed that the revised agreement now states: “We will not develop or in any way purchase a military weapon.” He characterized the shift as significant progress, adding, “We’re getting what we want slowly — very tough negotiators.”
Background: The 2026 Iran War
The development comes three months into a devastating conflict. On February 28, 2026, the United States and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran, targeting military and government sites and assassinating several Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The war has since settled into a stalemate with a temporary ceasefire in place since April 8.
According to the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), the conflict has killed at least 3,636 people, including 1,701 civilians. Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz — through which roughly 20 percent of the global oil supply transits — has disrupted world energy markets and contributed to a global fuel crisis.
Tougher Terms Sent to Tehran
On the same day Trump disclosed Iran’s nuclear concession, Al Jazeera reported that the administration had sent a revised peace framework back to Tehran with tougher provisions. The New York Times reported that Trump personally reviewed the draft and wanted to reinforce multiple points, particularly regarding Iran’s nuclear material.
A senior US official told Axios that Iran could take three days to respond, noting significant communication difficulties. “They’re literally in caves, and they’re not using email,” the official said. Another official added: “It could be a week. It could be less. It could be more. At the turn of the week, we hope to have something.”
Iran’s Response: Deep Distrust
Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, responded on Sunday by stating that Tehran “will not approve any agreement until we are certain that the rights of the Iranian people have been upheld.” Speaking via state television, Ghalibaf declared that Iranian negotiators “neither trust the enemy’s words nor its promises,” according to The New Indian Express.
Iran views sanction relief and the release of $12 billion in frozen assets as key rights that must be secured. Tehran has also insisted that Lebanon be included in any deal, as fighting between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah continues.
Military Option Still on the Table
Trump was unequivocal about the consequences of failed negotiations. “If we don’t get what we want, we’re going to end it a different way,” he said. The president claimed the US has destroyed the Iranian navy and air force, though he expressed hesitation about wiping out Iran’s remaining military due to the time required for reconstruction.
He said military action could be triggered by either the collapse of negotiations or “a deal that wasn’t going to be good for us.” The warnings serve dual purposes: maintaining pressure on Iran at the negotiating table and signaling strength to domestic audiences ahead of upcoming midterm elections.
The Nuclear Question
While Trump presented Iran’s pledge not to pursue nuclear weapons as a major breakthrough, the concession may formalize existing reality rather than represent a dramatic policy reversal. In March 2025, former Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard testified to Congress that Washington “continues to assess that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon.”
Moreover, the New York Times reported that more contentious issues — including the future of Iran’s nuclear enrichment program and ballistic missiles — have not yet been addressed and would be taken up in subsequent rounds of negotiations.
Economic Stakes
Trump emphasized that an agreement would reopen the Strait of Hormuz immediately, bringing gasoline prices “tumbling down.” The strait’s closure has caused global oil price spikes and economic disruption, creating domestic political urgency for a resolution. “I’m in no hurry,” Trump said, adding, “if you’re going to be in a hurry, you’re not going to make a good deal.”
What’s Next
The coming days will be critical. Iran’s response to the tougher US terms will determine whether the ceasefire holds or the region slides back into full-scale conflict. With communication channels limited and trust virtually nonexistent, the path to a final agreement remains fraught with obstacles. The world watches as two powers — one demanding total capitulation, the other insisting on guaranteed rights — attempt to bridge an enormous gap.