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Iran nuclear claim has again taken center stage in the escalating confrontation between Washington and Tehran, with US President Donald Trump saying Iran was only about two weeks away from obtaining a nuclear weapon before American military action targeted its nuclear infrastructure.
Trump made the claim while defending the US campaign against Iran, arguing that Washington had acted to prevent Tehran from acquiring an atomic bomb. His remarks come as fighting has intensified around the strategically important Strait of Hormuz and across parts of the Middle East.
Trump Revives Iran Nuclear Claim
Trump said Iran would have obtained a nuclear weapon had the United States not launched its military campaign. He credited US B-2 bomber strikes with destroying Iran’s nuclear capabilities and said Tehran had been approximately two weeks away from developing a weapon.
The president has made similar assertions previously. In an April interview, Trump said Iran was “about two weeks away” from having a nuclear weapon before US strikes disrupted its program.
The latest comments therefore represent a continuation of Trump’s stated justification for the military operation rather than a newly established independent assessment.
What Trump Says About Iran’s Nuclear Program
Trump argued that allowing Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon would have posed a severe threat to Israel, US interests and other countries in the Middle East.
He said the United States had achieved what he described as highly significant results through its military campaign and maintained that Iran must not be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon.
However, the precise condition of Iran’s nuclear program remains a major issue in the conflict. Recent Associated Press reporting noted that although substantial damage was inflicted on Iran’s military and nuclear infrastructure, questions remain over Iran’s enriched-uranium stockpile and whether all elements of its nuclear capability were eliminated.
That distinction is significant because destroying facilities does not necessarily establish that every nuclear material stockpile or technical capability has been permanently removed.
US Military Campaign and Nuclear Facilities
The United States and Israel began major attacks on Iran on February 28, according to current reporting, with Washington saying the campaign was aimed at Iran’s nuclear ambitions and broader military capabilities.
The conflict has since expanded into a wider confrontation involving Iranian missile and drone attacks against US positions and American strikes on Iranian military targets. Reuters reported that the latest exchanges have represented the most serious escalation since July.
The renewed fighting has also increased pressure on international shipping and energy markets because of developments surrounding the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump Claims Control of Strait of Hormuz
Trump has separately claimed that the United States now controls the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial maritime route for global energy supplies.
The White House has supported that assertion, saying US forces have cleared Iranian mines from international shipping lanes and escorted commercial vessels through the waterway.
Trump also took the unusual step of publicly suggesting that the waterway could be renamed the “Trump Strait.” In a September 2 social-media post, he asked whether the name should be changed, arguing that the waterway was under US control.
Growing Regional Tensions
The latest developments have raised concerns about a wider regional conflict. Iranian forces have launched missiles and drones toward US positions and facilities in several countries following American strikes, while Washington has warned Tehran against further retaliation.
The confrontation is also threatening the stability of global energy markets because the Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important oil and gas shipping routes.
With military operations continuing and diplomatic efforts facing significant obstacles, the dispute over Iran’s nuclear program remains at the heart of the confrontation.
What Happens Next?
Trump’s latest Iran nuclear claim is likely to remain central to Washington’s justification for its military strategy. Tehran, meanwhile, faces continued military and economic pressure as the conflict enters another volatile phase.
The immediate challenge for regional powers and international mediators will be preventing the confrontation from expanding further while addressing the unresolved questions surrounding Iran’s nuclear materials, military capabilities and the future of the Strait of Hormuz.
For now, Trump’s statements underscore Washington’s position that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon remains a core objective of the US campaign.See More on Pulse Pakistan
