Trump questions Iran's nuclear ambitions amid oil wealth

US President Donald Trump has cast doubt on Iran’s pursuit of nuclear energy, arguing that a country with such vast oil reserves has no practical need for nuclear power.

After concluding his four-day Middle East tour, the US president sat down with Fox News and when asked about the possible deal with Iran, reaffirmed that the deal is close, Caliber.Az reports. 

“They have massive oil, by the way. They have oil that lasts for 300 years. They have a lot of oil. People don’t realise it. They have the biggest in the world,” he added, emphasising that it’s “pure, unadulterated good oil.”

The president then questioned why a country with such energy wealth would seek nuclear capabilities for civil use. 

“And you say to yourself you know why does somebody who has that kind of oil, other than being politically correct, when you have unlimited amounts of oil and gas…Why do you need civil nuclear? I just don’t see it,” Trump remarked. 

He then added that he can see why a country with no oil would want access to nuclear, but doesn’t understand Iran’s reasoning.

“If you’re sitting on one of the largest piles of oil in the world, why are you talking about putting up nuclear civil?” he finalised. 

To recall, Iran and the United States held their fourth round of nuclear talks on May 11 in Muscat, Oman. 

Since the US withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal in 2018, Iran has expanded its uranium enrichment up to 60 per cent, close to weapons-grade levels, heightening regional tensions amid threats from Israel and the backdrop of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

By Sabina Mammadli