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President Donald Trump on Monday signaled a harsh stance on Iran’s nuclear program, stating that any potential agreement to ease sanctions would require Tehran to completely abandon its uranium enrichment activities.
The statement appears to contradict a report concerning Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy to Iran, which would allow limited enrichment for civilian purposes under certain conditions.
“The AUTOPEN should have stopped Iran a long time ago from “enriching.” Under our potential Agreement — WE WILL NOT ALLOW ANY ENRICHMENT OF URANIUM!” Trump posted to Truth Social.
The post comes amid ongoing direct talks between the United States and Iran. The negotiations have been framed by Trump as a final opportunity to avert military conflict. Iran has consistently denied pursuing nuclear weapons but has resisted any deal that would stop its enrichment capabilities.
“President Trump has made it clear that Iran can never obtain a nuclear bomb,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement on Monday.
“Special Envoy Witkoff has sent a detailed and acceptable proposal to the Iranian regime, and it’s in their best interest to accept it. Out of respect for the ongoing deal, the Administration will not comment on details of the proposal to the media,” she continued.
Trump harshly criticized the 2015 agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, and withdrew the U.S. from the deal during his first term. That accord permitted limited enrichment under international oversight, a feature Trump now appears firmly opposed to reinstating.
The International Atomic Energy Agency recently reported that Iran has further increased its stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels. While Iran maintains its nuclear program is for peaceful use, officials have hinted more openly at a potential shift toward weaponization.
The discussions are part of ongoing direct talks that the president announced in April.
“We’re having direct talks with Iran, and they’ve started,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office at the time. “Maybe a deal’s going to be made, that would be great. We are meeting very importantly on Saturday, at almost the highest level.”