Trump to N12: “Iran Will Not Have Nuclear Weapons and Missiles”
Washington, D.C. – In a definitive statement to Israel’s N12 news channel today, President Donald Trump reaffirmed his administration’s “maximum pressure” doctrine, declaring in no uncertain terms that the Islamic Republic of Iran will be barred from acquiring both nuclear capabilities and ballistic missile systems.
“Iran will not have nuclear weapons and missiles!” President Trump told N12, signaling a hardening of U.S. demands as he prepares for critical talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The President’s comments come amid renewed diplomatic efforts in Oman, where U.S. and Iranian envoys are attempting to navigate a fragile ceasefire following the 12-day conflict in June 2025.
Deep Search: Post-War Landscape
The President’s ultimatum reflects a significant expansion of U.S. strategic goals following “Operation Midnight Hammer,” the joint U.S.-Israel air campaign launched last summer. While the June 2025 strikes were reported to have “obliterated” key enrichment facilities at Natanz and Fordow, intelligence assessments suggest Tehran has accelerated its ballistic missile production in underground depots not targeted in the initial wave. By explicitly including “missiles” in his red line, Trump is moving the goalposts beyond the original parameters of the 2015 JCPOA, aiming to strip Tehran of its primary means of projecting power across the Middle East.
Objections and Strategic skepticism
Despite the President’s confidence, defense analysts and intelligence officials remain skeptical about the feasibility of a “zero-missile” deal. Critics argue that Iran views its ballistic arsenal as an existential deterrent, especially after its nuclear program was degraded. “Demanding total disarmament of their missile force is a non-starter for the Supreme Leader,” noted regional experts, warning that such maximalist terms could collapse the talks in Oman and precipitate a second, more volatile conflict. Furthermore, discrepancies remain between American and Israeli intelligence regarding the current status of Iran’s breakout time, with Mossad reportedly warning that Tehran is closer to a reconstituted nuclear capability than Washington acknowledges.
Background
Tensions have remained at a boiling point since the cessation of hostilities in late June 2025. The “12-day war” marked the first direct U.S. strikes on Iranian soil in decades, an operation President Trump has cited as proof of his willingness to use force. However, the regime in Tehran has remained defiant, with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei recently stating that “negotiation under threat is surrender.” As Prime Minister Netanyahu arrives in Washington, the coordination between the two allies appears tighter than ever, yet the path to a permanent diplomatic solution remains fraught with the risk of renewed escalation.
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