WASHINGTON: Former US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said military action against Iran remained “absolutely” on the table if ongoing diplomatic efforts fail to curb Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.
Speaking ahead of anticipated nuclear talks in Oman this weekend, Trump stated that while diplomacy is the preferred route, the United States would not hesitate to use force if necessary. He also indicated that Israel would take a leading role in any such military move.
“If it requires military, we’re going to have military,” Trump told reporters. “Israel will obviously be very much involved in that. They’ll be the leader of that. But nobody leads us — we do what we want to do.”
The remarks coincided with the US Treasury Department’s announcement of fresh sanctions targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. The new measures affect five entities and one individual linked to the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran.
Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reaffirmed that Tehran is not pursuing nuclear weapons. In a televised address, he made a rare appeal to American investors, stating that there is no objection from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to foreign investment.
“American investors: Come and invest,” Pezeshkian said.
The upcoming talks in Oman are expected to test the waters for any potential breakthrough, though both sides remain at odds over the format. The US has described the engagement as direct, while Tehran insists the talks will be held indirectly.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu voiced cautious support for the talks but warned that any agreement must guarantee Iran is permanently barred from acquiring nuclear weapons. He cited Libya’s 2003 disarmament as a possible model.
Trump pulled the US out of the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran during his presidency, calling it “the worst deal ever.” Multiple attempts to revive the agreement since then — including during President Joe Biden’s administration — have failed to yield results.
