Trump blames Obama nuclear deal as Iran ‘ignored’ US warnings
WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump on Monday, March 2, criticized the Iran nuclear deal negotiated under former President Barack Obama, saying it failed to prevent Tehran from pursuing nuclear weapons.
Speaking at the White House, Trump said Iran had ignored US warnings not to rebuild its nuclear program following earlier American strikes.
His remarks come as US military operations against Iran continued, with the president also outlining the campaign's expected timeline and scope.
Trump says Iran ‘Ignored’ warnings as Operations continue
During his remarks, Trump said Iran continued nuclear development efforts despite what he described as decisive US strikes on key facilities.
“Following our obliteration of Iran’s nuclear program and Operation Midnight Hammer a short while ago, we warned Iran not to make any attempt to rebuild at a different location, because they were unable to use the ones we so powerfully blew up, but they ignored those warnings and refused to cease their pursuit of nuclear weapons,” he said.
The president argued that Iran’s missile program posed a direct threat beyond the region. “The regime already had missiles capable of hitting Europe and our bases, both local and overseas, and would soon have had missiles capable of reaching our beautiful America,” Trump said.
Addressing the duration of the operation, Trump said, “Whatever the time is, it’s okay.” He added that the administration had initially projected “four to five weeks” but maintained flexibility.
“We’re already substantially ahead of our time projections,” he said. “But whatever the time is, it’s okay. Whatever it takes, we will always, and we have, right from the beginning, we projected four to five weeks, but we have capability to go far longer than that. We’ll do it.”
Trump also dismissed suggestions that the operation could lose momentum. “I don’t get bored,” he said. “There’s nothing boring about this.” He described ongoing efforts as “large scale” operations intended to eliminate what he called “grave threats” posed by Iran.
Trump revisits 2018 withdrawal from Obama-Era nuclear accord
In his remarks, Trump again criticized the nuclear agreement reached during Obama’s presidency, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
“I was very proud to have knocked out the Iran nuclear deal by President Barack Hussein Obama,” Trump said at the White House. “That was a horrible, horrible, dangerous document. They would have had nuclear weapons three years ago, and they would have used them,” he added.
In 2018, Trump announced that the United States would withdraw from the 2015 accord signed by Iran and several world powers. At the time, he said, “It is clear to me that we cannot prevent an Iranian nuclear bomb under the decaying and rotten structure of the current agreement. The United States will withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal.”
The agreement had required Iran to halt aspects of its nuclear program and allow international inspections in exchange for sanctions relief.
Trump argued that the deal did not sufficiently prevent Iran from eventually acquiring nuclear weapons and said the US would impose the “highest level” of sanctions following withdrawal.
Obama, responding at the time, described the withdrawal as “misguided” and warned it could harm US credibility internationally.
Other global leaders expressed concern that abandoning the agreement could increase tensions and complicate future diplomatic efforts.
