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

President Donald Trump said Iran was willing to forgo nuclear weapons and make new concessions, though Tehran has not confirmed the claims
President Donald Trump speaks with reporters before departing on Marine One from the South Lawn of the White House, Thursday, April 16, 2026, in Washington (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
President Donald Trump speaks with reporters before departing on Marine One from the South Lawn of the White House, Thursday, April 16, 2026, in Washington (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)


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.

President Donald Trump speaks with reporters before departing on Marine One from the South Lawn of the White House, Thursday, April 16, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
President Donald Trump speaks with reporters before departing on Marine One from the South Lawn of the White House, Thursday, April 16, 2026, in Washington (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

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.

A woman holds up a picture of the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as government supporters march against the ongoing U.S.-Israeli military campaign after Friday prayers at the Imam Khomeini Grand mosque in Tehran, Iran, Friday, March 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
A woman holds up a picture of the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as government supporters march against the ongoing US-Israeli military campaign after Friday prayers at the Imam Khomeini Grand mosque in Tehran, Iran, Friday, March 6, 2026 (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

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.

Workers remove debris at Tehran's Sharif University of Technology complex that Iranian authorities say was hit early Monday by a U.S.-Israeli strike, in Tehran, Iran, Monday, April 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Workers remove debris at Tehran's Sharif University of Technology complex that Iranian authorities say was hit early Monday by a US-Israeli strike, in Tehran, Iran, Monday, April 6, 2026 (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

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.

RELATED TOPICS US STRIKES IRAN

GET BREAKING U.S. NEWS & POLITICAL UPDATES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

Max D Lederer Jr's departure followed criticism from Pete Hegseth, who accused the newspaper of promoting 'woke distractions'
22 minutes ago
Missouri Republicans pushed through a new map under Donald Trump’s pressure, aiming to boost GOP power and target Democratic Rep Emanuel Cleaver
1 hour ago
Sean Duffy’s remarks came after a judge dismissed the Trump administration’s lawsuit against Harvard over alleged antisemitic harassment
2 hours ago
Two sources said Jennifer Hegseth wanted to revoke credentials of reporters she believed had published negative stories about Pete Hegseth
2 hours ago
The debt has since doubled to $40 trillion as the Trump admin faces higher military spending tied to the Iran war and tariff refunds, adding to continued federal borrowing
3 hours ago
Mitch McConnell, 84, has been absent since his June 14 hospitalization and was discharged from rehab on August 6 to recover at home
4 hours ago
Natalie Harp delayed her SF-86 security-clearance paperwork despite extensions until Donald Trump personally intervened, prompting its submission
5 hours ago
President Trump said America's energy surge weakened Hormuz's leverage as a covert US operation reportedly kept millions of barrels moving
10 hours ago
Fed officials say stubborn inflation may force the central bank to raise rates, putting renewed pressure on borrowers and the economy
11 hours ago
Melania Trump is expected Thursday at a Rose Garden event after weeks out of public view
12 hours ago