U.S. President Donald Trump said Israel does not have the capability to completely eliminate Iran’s nuclear program through military action. Speaking to reporters in New Jersey, Trump emphasized the need for diplomacy, stating he wants a ceasefire before entering any negotiations with Iran.
Trump noted that Israel’s airstrikes alone cannot fully destroy Iran’s nuclear capacity. He admitted that convincing Israel to halt its air campaign is challenging, but maintained that the U.S. prefers dialogue over war. “We’ll talk to Iran and see what comes out of it,” he added. However, he warned that if American assets are attacked, the response would be severe.
Regarding military options, Trump said sending U.S. ground troops into Iran would be the last resort. He mentioned that he will take up to two weeks to decide on any potential military action, leaving room for diplomatic efforts in the meantime.
Trump also touched on U.S. relations with South Asia, saying he’s open to trade deals with both India and Pakistan. He reiterated that he played a major role in stopping a war between the two countries last month, and joked that he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize for it—though he claimed the prize “only goes to liberals” and “they won’t give it to me.”
His comments came shortly after Pakistan announced it would formally recommend Trump for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, citing his intervention in the Pakistan-India crisis as a key factor in avoiding full-scale war.