According to Reuters, U.S. President Donald Trump said on June 3 that Iran has agreed not to possess nuclear weapons, and that the U.S. and Iran are advancing negotiations toward an agreement to end hostilities. This is one of the most positive signals since the outbreak of military conflict between the two sides earlier this year. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated the same day that Iran has not made substantive concessions on key nuclear issues, and future negotiations still face challenges.
At the end of February this year, the United States and Israel launched large-scale military operations targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities and military targets. Iran subsequently carried out retaliatory actions, causing a sharp deterioration in Middle East tensions. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz was affected, and international energy markets experienced volatility. After months of confrontation, the U.S. and Iran have begun negotiations through various channels in hopes of preventing further escalation.
Trump announces Iran has accepted the principle of abandoning nuclear weapons
In an interview with the podcast Pod Force One on the 3rd, Trump said that Iran has agreed not to possess nuclear weapons.
“They’ve already agreed they’re not going to have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said. He also revealed that Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is currently involved in the negotiations and has approved related contacts. Trump added that if negotiations continue to progress, a meeting with Khamenei in the future cannot be ruled out.
Trump emphasized that the United States will not accept Iran possessing nuclear weapons, but hopes to resolve the issue through diplomacy rather than continued reliance on military means. He believes the current negotiations have created an opportunity for both sides to find a long-term solution.
Success
You are now signed up for our newsletter
Success
Check your email to complete sign up
Netanyahu: Iran has not made core concessions
Regarding the progress of U.S.–Iran talks, the Israeli government remains cautious.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel welcomes any agreement that prevents Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, but Iran has not yet agreed to give up key nuclear materials nor fully resolved issues related to its nuclear program.
Netanyahu noted that he remains in close contact with Trump, and the two frequently discuss the situation regarding Iran. Although both the U.S. and Israel oppose Iran acquiring nuclear weapons, they sometimes differ in strategy on how to achieve that goal.
Netanyahu stressed that Israel’s main concern is whether Iran truly loses the capability to develop nuclear weapons in the future, not merely making political commitments. He argued that any future agreement must include clear provisions regarding nuclear materials, enrichment capacity, and verification mechanisms.
Although negotiations still face significant obstacles, Trump’s public confirmation that Iran has accepted the principle of “not possessing nuclear weapons” is seen by observers as an important development in U.S.–Iran relations in recent years.
Analysts believe that if a final agreement is reached, it could not only reduce the risk of a larger-scale conflict in the Middle East, but also ease pressure on global energy markets and help restore stable shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
