Iran has communicated to President Donald Trump that only the United States and China possess the technology necessary to remove “nuclear dust” from the nuclear sites that were targeted during Operation Midnight Hammer last summer.
These remarks from President Trump came while he was speaking with reporters aboard Air Force One, returning to the U.S. after a recent trip to China.
“[Iran] stated they can’t remove it due to a lack of appropriate technology. They mentioned they don’t have the right kind of tractors for the job. It’s only China or the United States that can handle this, and we are the ones equipped for it,” Trump conveyed to the press.
President Trump indicated that Iran recognized the destruction of sites like Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan due to the bunker-busting technology employed in Operation Midnight Hammer. However, there remains a concern about removing materials located deep underground—a factor complicating negotiations for a potential deal.
“They acknowledged, ‘You’re correct, it’s a complete expungement.’ I wanted to finalize an agreement, and they initially consented, but later retracted. Nonetheless, there will likely be a consensus in the end,” he reflected.
On Thursday, President Trump refrained from delving into specifics or discussing Iran broadly, but he did share with Fox News’ Sean Hannity that Chinese President Xi Jinping had expressed a willingness to assist.
“He said, ‘If I can help in any way, I want to help, too.’ … The individuals who purchase that much oil surely have some sort of relationship with them… He wants to ensure the Strait of Hormuz remains open,” Trump noted.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio remarked that Trump indicated he hasn’t sought Xi’s assistance on Iran, asserting that the U.S. is not reliant on China’s help. This mirrors Trump’s earlier comments to Breitbart News before his departure to China on Tuesday.
When asked if Xi would contribute to negotiations, Trump replied: “Yes. I mean, maybe. Honestly, I don’t think we need any aid regarding Iran.” He stated, “They were militarily defeated. They need to choose the right path, or we will complete the mission.”
On his flight back to the U.S. on Friday, Trump was queried about Iran’s most recent proposal in ongoing discussions to resolve the conflict. He responded: “I looked it over, and if the first sentence doesn’t sit well with you, just disregard it.”
A reporter inquired about the content of that first sentence.
“It’s an unacceptable assertion, as they fully commit not to pursue nuclear weapons. And if they do possess them in any form, I won’t continue reading their letter,” he concluded.
