President Trump confirmed to reporters at the White House that he warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to take any action that could disrupt the ongoing nuclear talks with Iran.
"Well, I'd like to be honest. Yes, I did. I told him I didn’t think it was appropriate right now because if we succeed in reaching a deal with supervision, not trust, because I don’t trust anyone, we'll be able to send in inspectors, take what we want, blow up what we want, and no one will be killed." Trump said, "We're having very good talks with Iran, and I said I didn’t think this was the right moment, because if we succeed in reaching a deal, it will save a lot of lives."
Trump also noted that the situation could change at any moment, but currently, he believes Iran wants to make a deal.
The warning came amid concerns that Israel might strike Iranian nuclear facilities, which could derail the negotiations. The New York Times reported that Israel was making preparations to strike Iran's nuclear sites, a claim dismissed by Netanyahu's office as "fake news."
Trump expressed optimism about the talks, stating that the US and Iran are having "very good discussions" and that a deal could be reached over the next couple of weeks.
The main sticking point in the negotiations is Iran's uranium enrichment. The US has demanded that Iran stop all uranium enrichment, but Iran has said it is willing to commit not to enrich uranium to weapons-grade as part of an agreement.
Trump emphasized the importance of strong inspections, saying that any agreement would allow the US to send in inspectors and take necessary actions without causing casualties.
The two sides are planning to meet again soon, most likely in the Middle East, to finalize a broad agreement that lays out specific markers for implementation.
