Iran agreed not to have nukes, claims Trump, drops a Strait of Hormuz hint
Trump, speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, described the reported "present" as a positive step but declined to provide specific details about the concession.
Amid ongoing negotiations to end the Iran war, US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Tehran made a major concession and agreed to never build nuclear weapons, doubling down on a claim he has made before.
"I don't want to say in advance, but they've agreed they will never have a nuclear weapon," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.
Striking an optimistic note, Trump also claimed that Iran had delivered what he described as a "very significant prize" to the United States, hinting that the move could be tied to the Strait of Hormuz -- one of the world’s most critical oil transit routes.
The Strait of Hormuz carries a substantial share of global energy supplies, and any disruption there has far-reaching consequences. In recent months, instability around the route caused by the ongoing US-Israel-Iran tensions has raised concerns in Washington and beyond, contributing to fears of energy shortages and market volatility. The US has struggled to keep the waterway open.
Trump described the reported "present" as a positive step but declined to provide specific details about the concession.
"They gave us a present and the present arrived today, and it was a very big present, worth a tremendous amount of money," he said. "It wasn’t nuclear, it was oil-and gas-related, and it was a very nice thing they did."
The President also reiterated his belief that the United States had effectively already won its conflict with Iran, which is in its fourth week. In doing so, he suggested that Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth had been disappointed by how quickly the campaign concluded.
"Pete didn’t want it to be settled," Trump said, a day after making an off-the-cuff remark that it was the Pentagon chief who egged him to launch strikes on Iran.
Trump asserted that the US obliterated Iran's nuclear potential, which could have been used against American allies in the Middle East. Repeating claims he has made before, he said that Iran has no remaining navy, leaders or radar, deeming the US operation a "tremendous success".
Despite the lack of clarity surrounding the so-called "gift", Trump indicated that diplomatic engagement with Iran was ongoing. He said US officials were in contact with "the right people" in Tehran and claimed that Iranian leaders were eager to reach an agreement to end hostilities.
"We're talking to the right people and they want to make a deal so badly," he said. Iran, however, has denied that it's holding any negotiations with the US or Israel.
Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff along with Jared Kushner were leading the negotiations with Iran, Trump indicated.