Trump Promotes a New Nuclear Deal with Iran to Avoid Military Option

25th January 2025

2 minutes read

Trump Promotes a New Nuclear Deal with Iran to Avoid Military Option

The U.S. president states he will discuss the military option to address Iran’s nuclear program with very high-level individuals, while expressing hope for a peaceful resolution.

U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday that he hopes to avoid striking Iranian nuclear sites and to reach a “deal” with Tehran, the sworn enemy of the United States and Israel. This statement signals a potential shift in the U.S. administration’s approach, favoring peaceful efforts after allies such as Saudi Arabia urged prioritizing diplomacy to ensure regional stability.

When asked by a journalist whether he would support strikes on these sites, Trump responded that he would discuss the issue with “very high-level individuals,” without specifying who or when.
“It would be really great if we could solve this problem without having to take that extra step,” he said.

Speaking from the Oval Office after signing several executive orders, Trump stated, “We have to hope that Iran will make a deal. If not, I don’t think that’s a problem either.”

During his first term (2017-2021), Trump was the architect of the “maximum pressure” policy on Iran.
In 2018, he withdrew from the international agreement on Iran’s nuclear program, signed three years earlier, and reinstated harsh sanctions on Tehran.

Trump also repeatedly suggested during his campaign that Israel might strike Iran’s nuclear facilities.
According to The New York Times, after the U.S. presidential elections, Elon Musk, a businessman close to Trump, reportedly met with a senior Iranian official in an attempt to ease tensions.

A Fox News report on Thursday stated that Trump would appoint his Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, as a key figure in his administration’s diplomatic efforts toward Iran.

The president’s current team includes a range of positions on Iran, including voices such as National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Senator Marco Rubio, now Secretary of State, who have favored a tougher approach.

Meanwhile, the Financial Times reported, citing unnamed sources, that the U.S. president is prepared to advance diplomatic efforts before increasing pressure on Tehran. According to the newspaper, “this approach marks a significant departure from Trump’s first term, when he, led by former National Security Advisor John Bolton, pursued a strong pressure campaign that ultimately failed to bring Iran back to the negotiating table.”

These developments also come after Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan called on the new administration during the Davos forum to prioritize peaceful solutions to the Iranian nuclear issue and contain tensions between Tehran and Tel Aviv.

Pro-Israel groups in Washington continue to push for strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, a primary demand of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

During the tensions between Iran and Israel over the wars in Lebanon and Gaza, former U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration strongly pressured Israel to refrain from launching a military attack on Iranian nuclear facilities.