Trump says he backs idea of inspectors checking Iran nuclear sites
At a press conference in the White House briefing room, Trump said he believes the sites were 'obliterated.' He has rejected any suggestion that damage to the sites was not as profound as he has said.
But Trump said he would support the IAEA, the UN's nuclear watchdog, going in to check the sites that were bombed.
The agency's chief, Rafael Grossi, said on Wednesday that ensuring the resumption of IAEA inspections was his top priority, as none had taken place since Israel began bombing on 13 June. However, Iran's Parliament approved moves on Wednesday to suspend such inspections.
Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araqchi, indicated on Friday that Tehran may reject any request by the head of the agency for visits to Iranian nuclear sites.
Trump also said he does not believe Iran wants to still seek a nuclear weapon after US and Israeli bombing raids.
He said Iran still wants to meet about the way forward. The White House had said on Thursday that no meeting between the US and an Iranian delegation had been scheduled thus far.
Trump also said on Friday he would 'absolutely' bomb Iran again if intelligence indicated the country was still able to enrich uranium to nuclear weapons-grade.
Asked at the White House press conference whether he would consider fresh air strikes if last week's sorties were not successful in ending Iran's nuclear ambitions, he said:
Trump said Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei 'got beat to hell' in the hostilities involving the United States and Israel and that 'it was a great time to end it.'
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