Trump Says Iran Would Need “Years” to Recover from Latest Strikes

US President Donald Trump stated that Iran came close to finalizing a nuclear agreement but ultimately withdrew, casting doubt on Tehran’s willingness to reach a deal. He also argued that the recent military strikes would set Iran back for years.

“They Came Close to a Deal”

Speaking to Israel’s N12 channel, Trump said Iranian officials were on the verge of an agreement before stepping back. He claimed this showed that Tehran did not genuinely want to conclude a nuclear deal.

“We Are on the Same Page” with Netanyahu

Trump described his latest phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as “good,” adding that the two leaders are aligned in their approach.

Military Options on the Table

Outlining potential US military options, Trump said Washington could either expand the campaign and “take over everything” or bring operations to an end within days. He warned that if Iran rebuilds any nuclear weapons capability, the United States would launch new attacks.

“It Will Take Years to Recover”

The US president said the latest wave of strikes inflicted serious damage, adding that it would take Iran “a few years” to recover.

Joint Operation After Nuclear Talks

Israel and the United States launched a joint military operation against Iran early Saturday, citing alleged threats posed by the “Iranian regime.”

The strikes followed the latest round of US-Iran nuclear talks in Geneva on Thursday, which both sides had described as serious and constructive under Omani mediation.

Last June, during a 12-day Israel-Iran conflict, the US struck three Iranian nuclear sites.