President Donald Trump claims Iran has agreed not to develop or acquire nuclear weapons, a statement that, if it holds, would mark a dramatic pivot from the military confrontation that rattled global markets just months ago.
Trump made the assertion on May 6, 2026, framing it as a crucial guarantee from Tehran. He also floated the possibility of meeting directly with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to discuss Iran’s nuclear future.
From airstrikes to handshakes
On June 21-22, 2025, the US conducted airstrikes targeting Iran’s most critical nuclear infrastructure, including the Fordow and Natanz enrichment facilities, along with sites near Isfahan. Trump described the damage as “monumental,” claiming the strikes had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear enrichment capabilities.
The US withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal, in 2018. That withdrawal removed the diplomatic guardrails that had constrained Tehran’s enrichment activities, and Iran responded by ramping up its nuclear program.
