President Donald Trump said Iran has informed the United States that only America and China possess the specialized equipment capable of removing what he described as “nuclear dust” from Iranian nuclear facilities damaged during Operation Midnight Hammer last summer.

Trump made the remarks to reporters aboard Air Force One while returning to the United States following his trip to China this week.

“[Iran] said that they can’t remove it because they don’t have the technology to remove it,” Trump told reporters. “They don’t have the type of tractors… They told me directly, they said the only one that can remove it is China or the U.S., we’re the only ones with the equipment.”

According to Trump, Iranian officials have acknowledged that the Fordow, Natanz and Esfahan nuclear facilities were destroyed by bunker-buster bombs used during Operation Midnight Hammer. However, he said the remaining material buried deep underground continues to be a central issue in negotiations over a possible agreement.

“They said, ‘You were right, it is a complete obliteration.’ With that being said, I want to get it, and they agreed to it, but then they took it back, but they’ll agree to it eventually,” he added.

Speaking more broadly about Iran during an interview Thursday with Fox News host Sean Hannity, Trump said Chinese President Xi Jinping had expressed willingness to assist.

“He said, ‘If I can be of any help at all, I would like to be of help’… Anybody that buys that much oil has obviously got some kind of a relationship with them… He’d like to see the Hormuz Strait open,” Trump said.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio later emphasized that Trump had not asked Xi for assistance regarding Iran and stated that the United States does not require Chinese involvement in the matter. Rubio’s remarks echoed comments Trump made Tuesday while departing the White House for China.

“He could. I mean, it might be. I don’t think we need any help with Iran, to be honest with you,” Trump said when asked whether Xi might contribute to a future agreement. “They’re defeated militarily, and they’ll either do the right thing, or we’ll finish the job.”

During Friday’s return flight to the United States, Trump was also asked about Iran’s newest proposal in negotiations aimed at ending the war.

“I looked at it, and if I don’t like the first sentence, I just throw it away,” he said.

When a reporter pressed him on what the opening sentence contained, Trump replied, “An unacceptable sentence, because they have fully agreed no nuclear, and if they have any nuclear of any form, I don’t read the rest of their letter,” he added.

{Matzav.com}