President Donald Trump has once again drawn a firm line over Iran’s nuclear ambitions, saying Tehran will not be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon as tensions between Washington and Iran continue to escalate.
In an interview with Fox News’ Sunday Night in America, Trump defended US intervention against Iran and argued that allowing Tehran to develop a nuclear weapon could create catastrophic consequences far beyond the current conflict.
“You cannot let them have a nuclear weapon, and they won’t have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said.
The president described Iran as a major state sponsor of terrorism and argued that the potential consequences of a nuclear-armed Iran were too serious for the United States and its allies to ignore.
Trump Defends US Action Against Iran
Trump said those questioning American military involvement should consider whether they would be comfortable with Iran possessing a nuclear weapon.
He emphasized the destructive potential of nuclear weapons and suggested that a future Iranian nuclear capability could dramatically change the security situation across the Middle East.
Trump argued that Iran could have used such a weapon against Israel if it had obtained one.
He also warned that the consequences would not necessarily remain limited to Israel, saying the United States and European countries could eventually face threats as well.
“If I weren’t president, Israel would be gone,” Trump said, adding that he believed the wider Middle East could also have faced devastating consequences.
Trump Says Iran Would Have Used a Nuclear Weapon
Trump went further by asserting that Iran would have launched a nuclear weapon if it had acquired one.
His comments were part of his broader argument for continued US pressure on Tehran.
The president said the potential danger could involve Israel, the Middle East, the United States or Europe, reinforcing his position that preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon is a central US security priority.
Trump has repeatedly used Iran’s nuclear program to justify military and economic pressure against Tehran.
US Economic Pressure on Tehran Intensifies
Trump also defended the administration’s wider economic campaign against Iran.
He claimed the United States was placing unprecedented financial pressure on Tehran through sanctions, a blockade and other economic measures.
“The financial hits that we’re giving them, we’re hitting them very hard,” Trump said.
Trump described Iran as a “failing nation” and suggested that Washington could continue pursuing its objectives without necessarily requiring a formal peace agreement.
The administration has increasingly relied on financial restrictions to pressure Iran, targeting revenue streams and international networks that Washington says support the Iranian government.
Trump Claims Iran’s Military Has Been Weakened
During the interview, Trump made sweeping claims about the damage inflicted on Iran’s military infrastructure.
He said Iran’s navy and air force had been effectively destroyed and claimed that much of the country’s air-defense capability had also been eliminated.
Trump also claimed that several senior Iranian leaders had been killed.
The president acknowledged that Iranians are “tough people” and “smart people” but accused the Iranian government of carrying out severe repression against protesters.
He claimed that tens of thousands of protesters had been killed, along with people who were not directly participating in demonstrations.
Those figures were presented by Trump and were not independently established in the supplied material.
Trump Says Iran Lost Regional Support
Trump also discussed Iran’s relationship with neighboring Gulf states.
He said he was surprised when Iran began targeting or threatening countries including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Kuwait during the conflict.
According to Trump, the attacks caused countries that had previously remained more neutral toward Tehran to distance themselves from Iran.
He argued that Iran’s actions ultimately weakened its regional support network.
Trump said he considered that development significant because it demonstrated what he described as the dangers posed by Iran’s military strategy.
US Strikes Iranian Missile Launchers on Larak Island
Trump’s comments came shortly after US forces reportedly conducted strikes on Iran’s Larak Island.
An American official said the operation targeted two Iranian rocket launchers after US forces observed Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps personnel preparing to launch rockets carrying sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz.
US Central Command described the operation as limited and precise, saying the Iranian activity posed an imminent threat to the strategically important waterway.
Larak Island sits near the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime route for global energy shipments.
The reported strikes were the first known US attacks on Iranian targets since late July.
Iran Threatens Retaliation
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps condemned the Larak Island strikes and warned that the United States would face retaliation.
IRGC spokesman and public relations chief Hossein Mohebbi described the attack as a serious strategic mistake and warned that Washington would face consequences in both economic and military arenas.
The warning came as the United States simultaneously increased economic pressure on Tehran.
The latest exchange has added to fears that military activity around the Strait of Hormuz could intensify.
Iran Launches Missiles Toward US Bases in Jordan
Following the reported Larak Island strikes, Iran launched ballistic missiles toward two US military bases in Jordan, according to Iranian media and the Revolutionary Guards.
Jordan’s armed forces said its air-defense systems intercepted eight missiles that entered Jordanian airspace.
A Fox News reporter, citing a US source, also reported that Iranian missiles targeted American forces in Jordan.
The latest exchange has increased concern over the possibility of a wider regional conflict involving US military bases and American allies.
Strait of Hormuz Remains a Major Flashpoint
The Strait of Hormuz continues to sit at the center of the US-Iran confrontation.
The waterway is a crucial route for international oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, making any threat to maritime traffic a potential problem for global energy markets.
Trump has repeatedly claimed that the United States has effectively taken control of the strait and that mines threatening commercial vessels have been cleared.
Iran has disputed American claims and continued warning that hostile actions in the area could face consequences.
Any further disruption around Hormuz could increase pressure on crude oil prices, shipping costs and global fuel markets.
Trump Criticizes US Allies
Trump also used the interview to criticize some American allies over defense spending and military support.
He complained that the United States spends billions of dollars supporting NATO members and South Korea but said some allies were unwilling to provide assistance when Washington requested it.
“We cannot continue to support those who do not stand with us,” Trump said.
The comments reflect Trump’s broader criticism of defense burden-sharing among US allies as Washington remains heavily involved in military operations overseas.
New Economic Campaign Targets Iran
The military confrontation has coincided with a fresh US economic campaign against Tehran.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced a new initiative on August 24 that was described in the supplied material as “Operation Economic Outcast.”
The campaign is aimed at disrupting Iran’s international financial networks and restricting revenue sources available to the Iranian government.
The measures reportedly include secondary sanctions against financial institutions and companies accused of helping Iran access international funds.
Trump’s latest comments indicate that Washington intends to maintain both economic and military pressure while keeping Iran’s nuclear program at the center of its policy toward Tehran.
