President Donald Trump defended the Iran nuclear deal during a news conference at the G7 summit in France on Thursday. He insisted that Iran would not receive $300 billion in assets, framing the money as Iranian property that should be returned, despite the U.S. freezing those assets.
Trump also claimed that the final days of military operations in Iran were “brutal” and credited the bombing campaign with persuading Iran to sign the memorandum of understanding. He said the U.S. achieved regime change by killing Tehran’s leadership, though he recently stated regime change was not his goal.
The president criticized the deal’s terms, arguing that Iran would be allowed to keep ballistic missiles and that the U.S. is not concerned about Iran’s missile program. He also dismissed concerns about Iran’s nuclear ambitions, asserting that Iran had agreed not to develop nuclear weapons, despite longstanding skepticism.
Trump accused Iran of enduring $2 trillion in damages and claimed the country would take 15 to 20 years to rebuild, citing dropping oil prices as a positive development. He also criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying Israel was “furious” about the arrangement, and questioned Netanyahu’s reactions to the deal.
Throughout the over-hour-long session, Trump was often stream-of-consciousness, rambling about various topics including immigration, drugs, and media outlets. He accused the media of having “so little credibility,” singling out CNN, The New York Times, ABC, NBC, and CBS for criticism.
The president also announced a desire to start “denuclearization” talks with Russia and China to reduce nuclear arsenals, suggesting an interest in global arms reduction. The deal with Iran remains a subject of controversy, with critics arguing it favors Iran over U.S. interests.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
