At NYC press conference, Trump extends unexpected overture to Iran
He withdrew the U.S. from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018 and has maintained a hostile stance during his campaign.
TroibNews 
Donald Trump has expressed his willingness to engage in discussions with Iran regarding a new iteration of the significant nuclear agreement he abandoned during his presidency.
During a press conference on Thursday in New York City, Trump refrained from elaborating on the specifics he might pursue in any potential agreement if he were to be reelected. However, he emphasized the importance of dialogue due to the risks posed by Iran's quest for nuclear weapons.
“Sure, I would do that,” the former president stated when questioned about the possibility of reaching an agreement with Iran. “We have to make a deal, because the consequences are impossible. We have to make a deal.”
These comments come as Trump faces a closely contested race against Vice President Kamala Harris, marking a significant shift given his previously aggressive stance toward Iran during his time in office and on the campaign trail—further highlighted by his recent claims of Iranian plots to assassinate him.
In 2018, Trump exited the agreement between Iran and major world powers, which mandated Iran's dismantling of its weapons program in exchange for sanctions relief. Instead, his administration embarked on a “maximum pressure” initiative, imposing stricter sanctions on Iran's banking and oil sectors, many of which have been maintained under President Joe Biden’s leadership.
Subsequently, Iran resumed its uranium enrichment activities necessary for developing nuclear weapons—an escalation that heightens regional tensions and risks triggering an arms race in the already unstable Middle East.
With his recent comments, Trump seemed to indicate a desire to reduce hostilities with the Iranian government. His campaign revealed this week that U.S. intelligence officials had informed him of Iranian intentions to assassinate him, coinciding with a grand jury indictment of several Iranians for allegedly hacking Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign.
Trump remarked that he would have been ready to strike a deal with Iran “within one week after the election” if he had been victorious in 2020.
“But Iran would have made a deal with us,” he claimed. “It would have been a great deal for them. The only thing is they cannot have nuclear weapons.”
The relationship between the U.S. and Iran has been fraught for decades, and the two countries came dangerously close to conflict during Trump's presidency, particularly after he authorized a strike in 2020 that resulted in the death of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Iran’s Foreign Minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, mentioned on Monday that Tehran is open to discussing nuclear negotiations during his visit to New York for the United Nations General Assembly. However, he recognized that ongoing tensions in the Middle East could complicate the resumption of talks.
Thomas Evans for TROIB News
During a press conference on Thursday in New York City, Trump refrained from elaborating on the specifics he might pursue in any potential agreement if he were to be reelected. However, he emphasized the importance of dialogue due to the risks posed by Iran's quest for nuclear weapons.
“Sure, I would do that,” the former president stated when questioned about the possibility of reaching an agreement with Iran. “We have to make a deal, because the consequences are impossible. We have to make a deal.”
These comments come as Trump faces a closely contested race against Vice President Kamala Harris, marking a significant shift given his previously aggressive stance toward Iran during his time in office and on the campaign trail—further highlighted by his recent claims of Iranian plots to assassinate him.
In 2018, Trump exited the agreement between Iran and major world powers, which mandated Iran's dismantling of its weapons program in exchange for sanctions relief. Instead, his administration embarked on a “maximum pressure” initiative, imposing stricter sanctions on Iran's banking and oil sectors, many of which have been maintained under President Joe Biden’s leadership.
Subsequently, Iran resumed its uranium enrichment activities necessary for developing nuclear weapons—an escalation that heightens regional tensions and risks triggering an arms race in the already unstable Middle East.
With his recent comments, Trump seemed to indicate a desire to reduce hostilities with the Iranian government. His campaign revealed this week that U.S. intelligence officials had informed him of Iranian intentions to assassinate him, coinciding with a grand jury indictment of several Iranians for allegedly hacking Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign.
Trump remarked that he would have been ready to strike a deal with Iran “within one week after the election” if he had been victorious in 2020.
“But Iran would have made a deal with us,” he claimed. “It would have been a great deal for them. The only thing is they cannot have nuclear weapons.”
The relationship between the U.S. and Iran has been fraught for decades, and the two countries came dangerously close to conflict during Trump's presidency, particularly after he authorized a strike in 2020 that resulted in the death of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Iran’s Foreign Minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, mentioned on Monday that Tehran is open to discussing nuclear negotiations during his visit to New York for the United Nations General Assembly. However, he recognized that ongoing tensions in the Middle East could complicate the resumption of talks.
Thomas Evans for TROIB News
