Trump trashes reports of $30 billion nuclear deal for Iran: Ridiculous idea
US President Donald Trump has rejected reports claiming his administration had weighed giving Iran as much as USD 30 billion to develop a civilian nuclear energy program.CNN and NBC News, citing unnamed sources, reported this week that the Trump administration had recently floated preliminary proposals for possible economic incentives in exchange for Iran halting its uranium enrichment.CNN said officials described the ideas as exploratory and far from final.advertisement
In response, Trump slammed the claims on Truth Social, calling the reports a 'HOAX'. "Who in the Fake News Media is the SleazeBag saying that 'President Trump wants to give Iran $30 Billion to build non-military Nuclear facilities. Never heard of this ridiculous idea," he wrote.Indirect talks between Washington and Tehran have been underway since April, aimed at forging a new diplomatic arrangement around Iran's nuclear programme. While Iran maintains its nuclear activities are peaceful, the US says its goal is to ensure Tehran cannot build a nuclear bomb.Tensions escalated this month when Israel attacked Iran on June 13, triggering a war that widened regional fears already heightened since Israel's campaign in Gaza began in October 2023. The US carried out strikes on Iranian nuclear sites last weekend, and Iran retaliated by targeting a US base in Qatar on Monday.advertisementFresh reports suggested that Iran may have secretly relocated nearly 400 kg of its uranium stockpile to an undisclosed site just days before the recent US strikes. Despite Trump repeatedly hailing the strikes as 'spectacular' and a 'bullseye', sources said the operation may have merely delayed, not crippled, Tehran's nuclear ambitions — contradicting the US President's public claims.Earlier this week, Trump declared a ceasefire between Israel and Iran to end the hostilities. Israel, which is widely believed to be the only nuclear-armed state in the Middle East, said its offensive was intended to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons.Iran remains a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, unlike Israel. The United States nuclear watchdog has repeatedly stated it has "no credible indication" of an active, coordinated nuclear weapons programme in Iran.- EndsTune InMust Watch
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Time of India
25 minutes ago
- Time of India
How much damage was done? Inside the strikes that shook Iran's nuclear program
The US and Israel launched major strikes on Iran's nuclear sites to slow down its bomb-making ability. Key facilities like Natanz and Fordow were hit. Some machines were destroyed, but Iran may have moved uranium in time. Damage was serious, but how much is still unclear. Iran says its program will continue anyway. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads What was hit? Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Signs of damage before and after Did Iran move anything before the attacks? What do US agencies say? Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads FAQs The US and Israel attacked Iran's nuclear sites to stop Iran from making nuclear weapons and to damage their uranium enrichment systems. Donald Trump said the strikes 'obliterated' Iran's nuclear program and set it back 'decades'.Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said the US failed to do anything important. Israeli intelligence said the damage was 'very significant'. But the US Pentagon said Iran was only set back 'a few months', according to the report by Telegraph.1. At the Natanz enrichment plant, Israel struck first and destroyed the main power station, power lines, backup generators, and fuel tanks. This made the centrifuges stop working. Satellite images showed smoke and three craters near enrichment halls, meaning deeper the US dropped 'bunker buster' bombs on Natanz, hitting underground areas. At least one 'penetration hole' was seen.2. Fordow enrichment plant, aka 'crown jewel' : The US dropped 12 giant bombs on Fordow under a mountain. They targeted ventilation shafts and centrifuge halls 80 meters deep. Bombs entered the main shaft at 1,000 ft/sec and exploded underground. Iran tried to cover the shafts with concrete, but the bombs blasted through. The actual damage is unknown because it's deep underground, as stated by Telegraph backfilled tunnels at Fordow and Isfahan before the strikes, maybe to block blasts or trap them inside. No dirt or debris was seen outside after, which may mean no tunnel IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said Fordow's centrifuges are 'no longer operational'. He said vibrations from the bombs destroyed the machines, which are very delicate. US and Israeli strikes also hit Iran's defence research HQ and University buildings in Tehran linked to nuclear work. These were linked to nuclear weapons development, as per the report by Telegraph.20 top military leaders and 14 nuclear scientists were assassinated. These people were key to building nuclear weapons. Iran replaced them quickly and stayed might have moved its uranium and equipment before the attacks. Trucks and bulldozers were seen at Fordow and Isfahan right before the US strikes. Later, Iran said it had moved the uranium to a secret place. US Vice President JD Vance said they'll work on finding and securing the uranium, as per Trump said nothing was moved, claiming it was just construction workers on site. Experts say it would have been difficult for Iran to move the uranium, but not impossible. Pickaxe Mountain, close to Natanz, might be hiding a secret underground facility — possibly deeper than one day before Israel's attack, Iran claimed it had built a new uranium enrichment site, but didn't say where it is. Experts believe more secret nuclear sites exist, as mentioned in the report by and Netanyahu want to show this as a victory to gain political support. Iran says its program is damaged but not dead — and they're still working on it. Trump claimed US intel intercepted a call where Iranians said, 'This place is gone.' Khamenei repeated that 'America failed.'US Pentagon said the strikes only delayed Iran's program by a few months. CIA is more hopeful — they say the damage was severe. Full truth will take weeks or months to know. Israel is now hunting inside Iran, even during ceasefire, for leftover nuclear US may demand that Iran give up its uranium in a future deal. Only Iran knows how much of its 400kg enriched uranium is left and where it is. Iran's parliament just suspended cooperation with the IAEA, cutting off global monitoring. Some Iranian leaders now even want to build and test a nuclear bomb. Experts say it could take Iran years to rebuild what was lost, according to Telegraph destroyed power supplies and underground tunnels at key sites like Natanz and Fordow, damaging uranium-enriching machines and slowing down Iran's nuclear think Iran moved some uranium to secret places before the strikes, but there is no clear proof, and Iran denies it.
Mint
26 minutes ago
- Mint
Satellite images show Iran expanding Fardo nuclear facility after US bombed the site last week
New satellite images showed Iranian construction crews and heavy machinery at the Fordo nuclear facility five days after the US carried out massive strikes at Tehran's three nuclear sites. According to a report by The New York Post, images captured by Maxar Technologies on Friday showed crews operated excavators, bulldozers, and other construction vehicles near the craters and punctures in the ground above the nuclear facility caused by the GBU-57 bunker buster bombs dropped by American B-2s last weekend. The report also said that some satellite images showed apparent construction crews building access roads to the facility and rebuilding the damaged dirt road that led to the bunker laboratory that was targeted by the US as part of Israel's conflict with Iran. Similar construction activity was seen on the surface of the Fardo nuclear site in images from before the US attack. 'Those vehicles appeared to be moving unidentified contents out of the facility to a location roughly half-a-mile away,' the report added. The United Nation's nuclear watchdog, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has said that Fordo's centrifuges are currently 'no longer operational' and the facility has 'suffered enormous damage'. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said 'there is very, very, very considerable damage', the report added. The extent of the destruction — and the amount of time the Iranian regime's program has been set back — have yet to be officially determined. The Trump administration on Thursday insisted the operation had been a total success, berating journalists for having reported on an intelligence assessment that took a more conservative line. President Donald Trump "created the conditions to end the war, decimating – choose your word – obliterating, destroying Iran's nuclear capabilities", Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told journalists at the Pentagon. Earlier this week however, US media reported on a leaked preliminary US intelligence assessment that said the strikes had only set back Iran's nuclear programme by months – coverage sharply criticised by Hegseth and others. The Israeli military has said it had delivered a "significant hit" to Iran's nuclear programme. While it said its attacks had delayed the programme "by several years" it also said it was "still early to assess the results of the operation". Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday hailed a "historic victory" in the 12-day conflict and vowed to thwart "any attempt" by Iran to rebuild its nuclear programme, according to an AFP report. Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has hailed what he described as Iran's "victory" over Israel. "The American president exaggerated events in unusual ways," Khamenei said, insisting the strikes had done "nothing significant" to Iran's nuclear infrastructure, the report added. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi however called the damage "serious" and said a detailed assessment was under way. Doubts remain about whether Iran quietly removed more than 400 kilogrammes (880 pounds) of uranium enriched to 60 per cent from its most sensitive sites before the strikes – to hide it elsewhere in the country. The stockpile could in theory produce more than nine atomic bombs – if the enrichment level were raised to 90 per cent. A Khamenei adviser, Ali Shamkhani, has said that the country still had its stockpile. "Even if nuclear sites are destroyed, game isn't over, enriched materials, indigenous knowledge, political will remain," he said in a post on X. (With inputs from agencies)
Mint
26 minutes ago
- Mint
‘These people are SICK': Donald Trump calls report of paying Iran $30 billion for nuclear agreement ‘fake news'
US President Donald Trump on Friday slammed a news report of America willing to pay Iran $30 billion to build non-military nuclear facilities. Calling the report 'fake news', he said that it was a 'ridiculous idea'. The report, published by CNN earlier this week, had said quoting four sources that Donald Trump has proposed to pay $30 billion to build a civilian-energy-producing nuclear programme. 'Who in the Fake News Media is the SleazeBag saying that 'President Trump wants to give Iran $30 Billion to build non-military Nuclear facilities.' Never heard of this ridiculous idea. It's just another HOAX put out by the Fake News in order to demean. These people are SICK!!!,' he said in a post on Truth Social. Trump bashes news report Bashing CNN directly, Trump said that one of their reporters has 'no idea what she is talking about." 'Where does CNN get its 'talent?' Just watched someone named Abby Phillip lecture her audience on Tariffs and the economy (which is doing record business!). She has absolutely no idea what she is talking about, strictly 3rd rate. Fortunately, the audience has long ago left CNN, and it will only get WORSE. LOSERS ALL!!!,' he said. Trump's second post on the matter According to the report by CNN citing at least four sources, the Donald Trump administration discussed helping Iran get access to $30 billion to build the nuclear programme, ease sanctions and free up billions in restricted Iranian funds. The talks were reportedly held in a hush-hush manner as Iran and Israel continued to strike a flurry of drones and missiles at each other, CNN reported, quoting sources. The talks have continued even as the two countries agreed to a ceasefire. The Trump administration has floated several evolving proposals in return for one thing: zero Iranian enrichment of uranium, which Iran has consistently maintained it needs. This was done a day before America launched three strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. One Trump official told the outlet that the funding will not directly come from the US and its Arab partners may pay the bill. 'The US is willing to lead these talks' with Iran, the Trump administration official told CNN. 'And someone is going to need to pay for the nuclear program to be built, but we will not make that commitment.' Iran has repeatedly resisted the US's offers to strike a nuclear deal, insisting that nuclear enrichment is necessary for it.
