Former U.S. President Donald Trump expressed optimism Thursday that the Iranian nuclear crisis could be resolved diplomatically, avoiding military action by Israel. Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump said, “Hopefully, this can be worked out without having to worry about a strike.”
The remarks follow reports that Trump plans to appoint Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff as his lead negotiator on Iran. Witkoff is credited with brokering the Gaza ceasefire deal and is viewed favorably by both sides.
While Trump emphasized diplomacy, he reiterated that the U.S. remains open to all options. “Iran will hopefully make a deal, and if they don’t, that’s okay too,” he said. His administration seeks a firm agreement to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, with senior officials predicting Iran will return to negotiations under Trump’s leadership.
Trump also addressed concerns over Iran’s regional activities, including its uranium enrichment and support for anti-Israel proxies such as Hamas and Hezbollah. He criticized former President Joe Biden for advising against Israeli strikes on Iranian facilities.
Trump’s focus on diplomacy signals an effort to curb tensions while maintaining pressure on Tehran to comply with international agreements. “The deal should hold,” Trump said of recent regional agreements, “but if it doesn’t, there will be problems.”
