U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the interim nuclear understanding reached between Washington and Tehran unequivocally prevents Iran from ever acquiring a nuclear weapon, while also suggesting Syria could be better positioned than Israel to curb the influence of the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement in neighboring Lebanon.
Speaking alongside Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit in France, Trump strongly defended the 14-point memorandum of understanding negotiated with Iran, despite the document not yet being released publicly.
“The only thing that really matters to me is Iran will never have a nuclear weapon, and it says it loud and clear,” Trump told reporters. He warned that “all hell will rain down” on Iran should it attempt to pursue a nuclear weapons program in violation of the agreement.
The remarks come ahead of formal negotiations scheduled to begin Friday in Switzerland, where American and Iranian officials are expected to launch detailed technical discussions under a 60-day framework established by the interim accord.
Negotiators are expected to address several of the most sensitive issues surrounding Iran’s nuclear program, including the future of its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, the scope of inspections, verification measures and the possible easing of U.S. and international sanctions.
European governments have expressed concern that the compressed negotiating timetable and the relative inexperience of some members of the U.S. negotiating team could complicate efforts to secure a durable agreement. Diplomats have cautioned that nuclear negotiations with Iran have historically required lengthy technical discussions and careful verification mechanisms.
Trump contrasted the current framework with the 2015 nuclear agreement negotiated during former President Barack Obama’s administration, which exchanged sanctions relief for restrictions on Iran’s nuclear activities before the United States withdrew from the accord during Trump’s first presidential term.
“This deal is a wall to a nuclear weapon. His deal was a road to a nuclear weapon. My deal, they can’t have a nuclear, they get blown up,” Trump said.
Foreign policy analysts note that Iranian negotiators have long been regarded as experienced participants in complex nuclear diplomacy, often using prolonged negotiations to maximize leverage while protecting Tehran’s strategic interests. Those assessments have fueled skepticism among some Western officials that a comprehensive agreement can be completed within the proposed 60-day period.
Regional security concerns are also expected to influence the success of the negotiations, particularly developments in Lebanon, where Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted Israeli forces will remain in southern Lebanon as long as necessary to counter Hezbollah. Iran has repeatedly demanded a full Israeli withdrawal from the area.
Trump appeared to distance himself from Israel’s current approach toward Hezbollah, suggesting Syria under President Ahmed al-Sharaa could ultimately play a more effective role in containing the militant group as Damascus attempts to stabilize the country after years of civil war.
“I suggested to Israel to let Syria take care of Hezbollah because, to be honest, I think they do a better job of doing it,” Trump said.
The upcoming negotiations in Switzerland are expected to determine whether the interim understanding can evolve into a broader nuclear agreement capable of easing regional tensions while satisfying Western demands that Iran permanently abandon any pathway toward developing nuclear weapons.
