Trump says he will "absolutely" bomb Iran again if it continues to enrich uranium

Washington - Saeed Erekat

US President Donald Trump said on Friday he would not hesitate to order another military strike against Tehran if intelligence showed it was continuing to enrich uranium at alarming levels, in one of his most direct warnings to Tehran since the ceasefire between Israel and Iran last Monday evening.

In response to a reporter's question, Trump said, "If the intelligence report concludes that Iran is capable of enriching uranium to a level that concerns you, would you consider bombing the country again?" The president replied, "Yes. Absolutely. Absolutely."

Speaking at a White House press conference, Trump reiterated his previous statements that Iran's nuclear facilities were "destroyed" in coordinated US strikes last week. "We took them out," he said, denying media reports that US intelligence assessments indicated the damage had set Iran's programs back only a few months. The president also reiterated his demand for full transparency from Iran ahead of any potential nuclear talks, insisting that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)—or another credible US-approved body—be granted full access to inspect Iranian facilities. "They're going to have to allow the IAEA or someone we trust—including ourselves—to come in and verify," Trump said.

However, Trump claimed that Iran still wants to reach an agreement. "They want to meet," he said, without elaborating on further details about the talks. "We may get something done—or we may not. I don't care either way."

Separately, Trump briefly touched on the Russia-Ukraine war, hinting at a possible diplomatic development. He said, "President Putin called me and said, 'I'd like to help you with Iran.' I said, 'Do me a favor: I'll take care of Iran. Help me with Russia.' We have to get this sorted. And I think something is going to happen there."