Trump Vows to Destroy Iran's Uranium with or Without Deal

President Trump. (Twitter/@POTUS)

JAKARTA - US President Donald Trump said Washington would ensure the destruction of Iran's enriched uranium, regardless of whether a diplomatic deal was reached or not.

"We will take it and destroy it, either on-site or off-site," President Trump told NBC News in an interview aired Sunday, Anadolu (8/6) reported.

"The United States will act with them, or without them," President Trump continued.

President Trump said the US would remove Iran's enriched uranium "militarily, very strongly" if no deal was reached, adding: "We will not be shot at" if the two sides "come together."

Furthermore, President Trump emphasized that current Space Force technology is monitoring about 1,000 pounds (453.6 kilograms) of enriched uranium trapped under the ruins of the site that was previously targeted.

"If someone walks there, if you walk there, I'll be able to read your first name on your shirt collar," he said.

Regarding the ongoing peace talks, President Trump noted that both parties were "very close" to an agreement, but he demanded additional clauses to prevent Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons in any way.

He insisted that the deal must stipulate that Iran cannot "buy, obtain, or acquire" nuclear assets from other sources. The Republican president said Tehran had slightly rejected this demand.

President Trump clarified that he "did not demand" that Lebanon be included in the short-term deal.

He claimed there was a "high probability" of knowing the location of Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei who was "very injured".

Describing the new Iranian leadership under Mojtaba Khamenei as "more rational" and "very intelligent," the leader noted that "it was part of" the approval process for the deal.

The US president clarified that any agreement would not result in the direct release of Iranian assets, stating that such a move would only take place "after" a period of good behavior.

"If they behave well, if they do a good job, we'll start talking," Trump said.

Speaking about US forces in the Middle East, the president said it would be "stupid" to withdraw them before a "conclusion" of negotiations.

President Trump brushed off concerns about their safety, insisting "it costs very little to keep them there" and that he did not consider them in danger.

During the interview, President Trump discussed the issue of American citizens potentially being detained in Iran, claiming there is currently no one who has an "accurate list" of who they are or their status.

"If you give me those names, I will do my best to get them," President Trump said, adding that although the topic had been part of the discussion, the list was still difficult to obtain.