Donald Trump repeated his position that Iran must not be permitted to develop nuclear weapons, contending that any such capability would threaten Israel and carry broader repercussions across the Middle East, Europe, and the United States. During a Sunday television appearance, Trump maintained that military and economic pressure had substantially weakened Iran's capabilities, while also characterising the country as the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism — a designation that is repeated widely and regularly.
Trump stated that nuclear weapons could not be acquired by Iran. He noted that he had posed the question to those opposing the military operation on multiple occasions, asking whether they considered it acceptable for Iran to acquire nuclear weapons, and added that such weapons represented destruction on a scale far exceeding anything visible, potentially multiplied a hundredfold.
Trump stated that even those who had opposed his position on the matter shared his view that Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon was unacceptable, noting that individuals who had approached him with contrary arguments had nonetheless agreed on that particular point. He indicated that the vast majority of people held no objection to his stance.
The president also asserted that the combined military and economic pressure on Tehran was producing tangible results, adding that progress had been considerable. He described the restrictions imposed as extensive and the financial penalties as particularly severe. Trump asserted that no one in history had ever endured circumstances comparable to his own.
He noted that Iran faced mounting pressure while providing no timeline or conditions under which the conflict might be resolved, and described the country as a nation in decline. He stated that, at the appropriate moment, the outcome would either go in his favour or the other party would take action, and that a formal written agreement was not something he required in order to consider it a victory.
Trump additionally asserted that Iran's naval forces, air power, top leadership, and air defence networks had all sustained extensive damage throughout the hostilities, stating that the country's fleet, aircraft, commanders, and anti-aircraft systems had been rendered non-operational. Independent verification of the scope of destruction outlined by Trump was not possible at the time of reporting.
Trump additionally put forward unverified figures on the number of protesters killed in Iran, asserting that security forces had targeted both demonstrators and bystanders, and placing the death toll at 52,000 as of three months prior, with that number having grown considerably since. During the interview, Trump offered no corroborating data to substantiate the death toll he referenced.
Trump stated that if Iran acquired a nuclear weapon, the consequences for Israel and the broader Middle East region would be severe, adding that Israel's existence would be at risk under such a scenario. He claimed that his presidency had been essential to Israel's continued existence, asserting that the country would otherwise never have been established. Trump added that the Middle East would likely not exist in its current form.
He also cited actions taken by Iran against Gulf states since the onset of the conflict, listing Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Kuwait, adding that possession of a nuclear weapon by Iran would, in his view, have resulted in its deployment. He expressed the view that the broader region, and particularly Israel, would have faced destruction under those circumstances. Trump speculated that other regions — including Europe — could face similar circumstances, while maintaining that Iran acquiring nuclear weapons could not be permitted.
The interview took place as armed forces conducted strikes on Larak Island on Sunday, with two missile launchers reported as targets, according to a broadcast outlet citing an official. The airstrikes landed near the northern approaches to the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway of considerable international importance that has drawn mounting attention amid ongoing disputes between the United States and Iran.
Following the strike, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' public relations department released a statement vowing retaliation against those it held responsible and pledging consequences for the attacking party. IRGC spokesperson Hossein Mohebbi characterised the military action as a miscalculation that coincided with newly announced US economic measures, stating that the move represented a strategic error by the Trump administration within the context of an ongoing economic dispute — one that he said would prove costly to its architects in both financial and military terms, adding that those responsible would face consequences across both domains.
Mohebbi's remarks followed the 24 August announcement by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent of "Operation Economic Outcast," a campaign designed to limit Iran's access to international financial systems and reduce government revenue. Washington has paired military operations with financial restrictions as elements of a wider strategy to apply pressure on Iran.
