Trump vows to prevent Iran from building nuclear weapons

US President Donald Trump has reiterated his stance against Iran developing nuclear weapons, citing the potential catastrophic consequences of such an event.

Trump expressed his desire for Iran to thrive as a nation while emphasizing the need to prevent nuclear proliferation, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

"I want them to be a great country. They have tremendous potential. The people are incredible. But the one thing I will say about Iran is this—they cannot have nuclear weapons," Trump stated.

He warned that Iran obtaining nuclear capabilities could trigger a domino effect, with other nations pursuing nuclear arms, ultimately leading to global disaster.

Meanwhile, Esmail Baghaei, an official spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry, recently warned that Tehran might withdraw from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). This response would follow any move by Western nations to trigger the snapback mechanism, reinstating UN Security Council sanctions on the Islamic Republic.

The nuclear agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was signed on 14 July 2015 between Iran and a group of world powers comprising the UK, US, Russia, China, France, and Germany. It obligates Iran to limit uranium enrichment to no more than 3.67% for 15 years and to cap its stockpile of enriched uranium at 300kg.

Addressing the World Economic Forum in Davos via video link, Trump also highlighted his aspiration for a significant reduction in global nuclear arsenals.

"We would like to see a reduction in nuclear arsenals," Trump told participants.

He disclosed past discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin about reducing the nuclear stockpiles of their respective countries, adding that China could also be persuaded to participate.

"I think it's entirely possible," Trump remarked. "For the planet, this would be incredible."

Trump claimed that President Putin was receptive to the idea of reducing nuclear weapons. "Both he and I wanted it," Trump said.

He further suggested that global cooperation was achievable, stating, "I think we could lead the rest of the world to follow suit. China, too, liked the idea."

The former president noted that while China’s nuclear arsenal currently trails behind those of the US and Russia, he predicted that "in four or five years, they’ll catch up."

Trump also criticized the vast expenditure on nuclear arms, describing their destructive potential as too dire to contemplate. "The resources being spent on nuclear arsenals are immense, and the capabilities are so destructive we don't even want to discuss them today," he concluded.

By Aghakazim Guliyev