Trump says Iran agreed to give up nuclear weapons, Tehran yet to confirm

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump expressed optimism about ongoing negotiations with Iran, claiming Tehran has agreed not to pursue nuclear weapons.

Speaking to reporters while leaving the White House on Thursday, April 16, Trump said the understanding was “very powerful” and central to the talks.

Trump also asserted that Iran had agreed to return what he described as “nuclear dust” buried deep underground following US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities last June, carried out using B-2 bombers.

He suggested the development marked significant progress stemming from US military action.

Trump claims shift in Iran's negotiating stance

Highlighting what he described as a shift in Tehran’s stance, Trump said Iran is now willing to consider measures it had rejected just two months ago.

“Iran wants to make a deal, and we’re dealing very nicely with them,” he said, reiterating that preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons remains a top priority.

Addressing reports of a possible 20-year suspension on uranium enrichment, Trump dismissed the notion of a fixed timeframe. 

He indicated that any agreement would extend beyond such limits, insisting that Iran would not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons without a defined expiration period.

Despite Trump’s claims of broad agreement, Iran has not publicly confirmed any such commitments regarding nuclear disarmament or material transfer.

Trump suggests he may visit Pakistan for peace deal signing

President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he’d consider traveling to Pakistan to sign a peace deal if the US and Iran reach an agreement to end the war.

“I would go to Pakistan, yeah,” he told reporters at the White House. “If the deal is signed in Islamabad, I might go.” He added, “They want me to go.”

Trump also praised the Pakistanis serving as intermediaries in the negotiations over the war, saying they’ve “been so great.”

Iran yet to support Trump's claims 

Amid Trump’s upbeat remarks, broader developments suggest negotiations remain complex and far from settled.

Recent reports indicate the United States and Iran are still divided over key issues, including the fate of highly enriched uranium stockpiles and the duration of any limits on enrichment activities.

While Washington has pushed for long-term or even permanent restrictions, Tehran is said to favor shorter timelines and insists on its right to pursue nuclear activity for peaceful purposes.

There are also indications that Iran may be open to transferring part of its enriched uranium to a third country, a step seen as a potential confidence-building measure, though no final agreement has been confirmed.

The talks come against the backdrop of months of heightened tensions, including US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites and a broader regional conflict that has complicated diplomacy.