U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Saturday that he would meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday to discuss Iran’s nuclear program. The meeting at the White House will mark Netanyahu’s third visit to Washington since Trump returned to office less than six months ago.
Trump made the remarks while en route to New Jersey, where he offered contradictory assessments regarding the outcome of last month’s U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
“I would say it’s set back permanently,” Trump said, before conceding, “I would think they’d have to start at a different location. And if they did start, it would be a problem.”
The president also criticized Iran’s recent move to ban nuclear inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). “They’re not allowing inspectors in, and they haven’t given up enrichment,” he said. On Friday, IAEA inspectors departed Iran following the enactment of legislation suspending cooperation with the agency.
Trump has repeatedly asserted that Iran’s nuclear program was destroyed in the June 22 U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. However, leaked intelligence and expert assessments have contradicted this claim. Many reports suggest that Iran removed most of its 60% enriched uranium from the Fordow facility prior to the attack, and no abnormal radiation levels were detected after the strike—casting doubt on the assertion that enriched uranium stockpiles were destroyed.
Despite this, Trump has used the claim to argue that there is no need to return to a nuclear deal with Tehran, stating that the program has already been rendered inoperable.
Earlier this week, Trump said Iran was open to talks, claiming, “Iran does want to speak, and I think they’d like to speak to me, and it’s time that they do. We’re not looking to hurt them. We’re looking to let them be a country again.”
Iranian officials swiftly refuted that assertion. On Saturday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei categorically denied any willingness to resume negotiations with Washington. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who previously led indirect talks with the U.S., reiterated that no talks would resume without a guarantee from Washington that Iran would not face further military attacks.
The Monday meeting between Trump and Netanyahu is expected to cover a range of topics, but the Iran nuclear issue will likely dominate the agenda amid rising regional tensions and diplomatic fallout from the June strikes.