President Donald Trump said Thursday that the conflict involving Iran is approaching its conclusion, while making clear that Tehran will not be permitted to retain its stockpile of enriched uranium.

During remarks to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump stated that the United States intends to take possession of Iran’s highly enriched uranium and suggested it would likely be destroyed afterward.

“We will get [the highly enriched uranium]. We don’t need it. We don’t want it. We’ll probably destroy it after we get it – but we’re not going to let them have it,” Trump said.

"Can they keep their highly enriched uranium?"@POTUS: "No. We will get it. We don't need it. We don't want it. We'll probably destroy it after we get it — but we're not going to let them have it." pic.twitter.com/fHmF1UHXOe

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 21, 2026

Addressing the ongoing negotiations with Tehran, Trump indicated that diplomatic talks are continuing but insisted the end result is non-negotiable.

“Right now, we’re negotiating, and we’ll see, but we’re going to get it one way or the other. They’re not going to have a nuclear weapon,” he said.

Trump also boasted about American military dominance in the region, claiming the United States had effectively sealed off the Strait of Hormuz and severely weakened Iran’s military capabilities.

“We have total control of the Strait of Hormuz. The blockade has been 100% effective. Nobody’s been able to get through. It’s like a steel wall. We have the greatest military anywhere in the world. We wiped out their Navy, we wiped out their aircraft. I would say we knocked out about 85% of their missile capacity,” the President stated.

A day earlier, Trump said he was prepared to give Iran a brief window to respond in negotiations before taking further action.

“If I can save war by waiting a couple of days, if I can save people being killed by waiting a couple of days, I think it’s a great thing to do,” the president told reporters at Joint Base Andrews.

At the same time, Trump warned that military action could follow quickly if the administration is dissatisfied with Iran’s response.

“If we don’t get the right answers, it goes very quickly,” he stated. “We’re all ready to go. We have to get the right answers. It would have to be a complete 100% good answers, and if we do, we save a lot of time, energy and lives, most importantly.”

Trump also said his administration has been encouraged by the tone and quality of the Iranian officials participating in the talks.

“We’re dealing with people that are, I think, far more reasonable than the people that are really no longer with us,” the president said. “We’re dealing with some people with talent, with good brain power, and we’re pretty impressed by it, so hopefully those people will make a deal that’s going to be great for everybody.”

On Monday, Trump disclosed on Truth Social that the United States had been preparing to strike Iran on Tuesday, but delayed the operation because negotiations had intensified.

Speaking later with reporters, Trump elaborated on the decision to hold off on the planned attack.

“We were getting ready to do a very major attack tomorrow. I’ve put it off for a little while, hopefully, maybe forever, but possibly for a little while, because we’ve had very big discussions with Iran, and we’ll see what they amount to,” he said.

Trump also addressed the Iran situation Tuesday evening during a Congressional picnic held at the White House, predicting the standoff would soon come to an end.

“I think we’re going to be finished with that very quickly,” Trump said.

He added that Iran appears eager to reach an agreement and repeated his insistence that Tehran will never be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons.

“They want to make a deal so badly. They’re tired of this, and we’re going to be finished with that very quickly. Hopefully, we’re going to get it done in a very nice manner,” he added, while once again stressing that “they won’t have a nuclear weapon.”

{Matzav.com}