President Donald Trump stated he believes Israel’s recent strike on Iran may actually improve the chances of a U.S.-Iran nuclear agreement, Axios reported. When asked whether the attack could derail ongoing negotiations, Trump replied, “I don’t think so. Maybe the opposite. Maybe now they will negotiate seriously.” He has continued to urge Iran to make a deal “before there is nothing left,” following Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear and missile sites. Trump noted that efforts to strike a deal during his administration were close but ultimately unfinished. “I couldn’t get them to a deal in 60 days. They were close. They should have done it. Maybe now it will happen,” he said. During his first term, Trump withdrew the U.S. from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), citing Iran’s repeated violations.
Under President Joe Biden, the U.S. attempted to reenter the JCPOA, but years of negotiations failed to yield a new agreement. Trump has emphasized that preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon remains a top priority, though reports suggest he may allow Iran to enrich uranium for civilian energy use. Following Israel’s strike, Iran announced it would suspend nuclear talks and retaliated by launching missiles at Israel. Some projectiles reportedly reached Tel Aviv, despite Israel’s Iron Dome defenses.
