There is more rhetoric than result at this point in the negotiating process between the U.S. and Iran, but President Trump is doing little to improve that. On May 15, during his visit in Qatar, Trump claimed, “We’re not going to be making any nuclear dust in Iran [meaning no bombing—ed.]. I think we’re getting close to maybe doing a deal without having to do this.” He added that Iran should “say a big thank you” to Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who had pushed back against military action. “He doesn’t want us to do a vicious blow to Iran,” Trump said.
Also on May 15, Trump said that Iran has “sort of agreed to the terms.” While he didn’t elaborate on his meaning, Trump posted on Truth Social an article about an interview NBC News had conducted on May 14 with Ali Shamkhani, a top political, military, and nuclear advisor to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Shamkhani told NBC News that Iran was willing to commit to never making nuclear weapons, getting rid of its stockpiles of highly enriched uranium, only enrich uranium to the lower levels needed for civilian use, and allow international inspectors to supervise the process—in exchange for the immediate lifting of all economic sanctions on Iran.
Asked if Iran would agree to sign an agreement today if those conditions were met, Shamkhani said, “Yes. It’s still possible. If the Americans act as they say.” However, he ridiculed Trump’s “olive branch” remarks from Riyadh on May 13, saying: “He talks about the olive branch, which we have not seen. It’s all barbed wire.”
