ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - United States President Donald Trump on Friday said he would consider bombing Iran again if intelligence reports concluded the country could still enrich weapons-grade uranium.
“Sure, without question. Absolutely,” Trump said in answer to a reporter’s question about whether he would consider bombing Iran again.
He described both Israel and Iran as “exhausted” and said that “they both want it settled. The last thing they are thinking about is nuclear.”
Washington on Tuesday brokered a ceasefire to the 12-day war between Israel and Iran.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Thursday declared victory, claiming that Trump had exaggerated the destruction caused by US military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
He said that Iran “dealt a severe slap” to the US and emerged victorious in the war that the US entered to save Israel from “complete destruction.”
Trump responded, saying, “You are a man of great faith, and a man who is highly respected in his country. You have to tell the truth, you got beat to hell. And Israel is beat up too.”
The conflict began on June 13 when Israel carried out surprise airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear and military sites, killing many commanders and nuclear scientists. Iran retaliated, firing missiles and drones at Israel. The US got directly involved with a military operation on Sunday that targeted Iran’s main nuclear sites, including Fordow, which houses the country’s most advanced centrifuges.
Trump dismissed reports that Iran will resume enriching uranium. “I don't believe that they will go back into nuclear anytime soon. They spent over a trillion dollars on nuclear, they never got it together,” he said.
Trump said none of the materials at Iran’s nuclear sites had been moved prior to the strikes. He noted that Iran had been reinforcing the targeted facilities, with workers pouring concrete over hatch entrances that he said were “obliterated” in the US strikes.
“Turned out to be unbelievable, but our incredible flyers - I call them the shots - these guys are unbelievable. From 52,000 feet, they hit the equivalent of a refrigerator door. They actually hit right in the center. So it's much more than that - just bomb after bomb going deeper and deeper, blowing up. Incredible thing,” he said.
The conflict brought an end to indirect nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has ruled out the possibility of resuming the talks, though Trump has said he expects they will meet.
“So Iran wants to meet. As you know, their sites were obliterated, their very evil nuclear sites,” Trump said.
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