Washington, DC – US President Donald Trump stated that Iran’s acquisition of nuclear weapons would have represented a catastrophic shift in the balance of power.
He asserted that Tehran would not hesitate to use them against US military bases throughout the Middle East and against Israel directly.
Speaking about current geopolitical tensions in 2026, Trump indicated that his previous “maximum pressure” policy was primarily
aimed at preventing the Iranian regime from acquiring these deadly capabilities.
He further explained that these capabilities threaten global peace.
A direct threat to US military installations
Trump explained that Iran’s plans extend beyond traditional regional influence.
They also aim to acquire a “nuclear deterrent” to protect its cells and subversive proxies in the region.
He warned that the presence of American bases within range of Iran’s nuclear program would cripple its deterrent capabilities.
He indicated that this would leave forces deployed in the Gulf
and the region vulnerable to nuclear blackmail.
He reiterated that any leniency in monitoring the nuclear program would give Tehran
a green light to threaten the security of American soldiers and Washington’s allies in the region.
Israel’s security and the regional balance of power
The US president asserted that Israel’s security would have faced
an unprecedented existential threat had Iran succeeded in its nuclear ambitions.
He pointed out that Tehran’s “extremist ideology,” linked to its regional expansionist project,
makes possessing nuclear weapons an offensive tool, not merely a defensive one.
He emphasized that protecting Israel’s home front requires a firm strategy to prevent Iran
from achieving any technological breakthrough in this area,
especially given the military escalation and instability the region has witnessed since March 2016.
Criticism of the current policy and demands for decisiveness
Trump sharply criticized the diplomatic approach to the Iranian issue,
arguing that “weakness” in negotiations emboldened Tehran to escalate its threats
and destabilize neighboring countries through terrorist cells and military operations.
He concluded that the only way to prevent Iran from using nuclear weapons against American bases
and Israel is through comprehensive economic and political isolation.
He also asserted that “strategic steadfastness” and preventing the regime
from receiving funding are the only means to ensure the region does not become an arena for a devastating nuclear conflict.
