Trump demands in address that Iran promise never to build a nuclear weapon
#Trump#Iran#Nuclear Weapon#State of the Union#Military Action#Diplomacy#Uranium Enrichment
📌 Key Takeaways
Trump demands Iran promise never to build nuclear weapon in State of Union address
Trump expresses preference for diplomacy but warns against Iranian nuclear capability
U.S. military options being considered as naval vessels deployed to Middle East
Iran publicly denies seeking nuclear weapons while asserting uranium enrichment rights
📖 Full Retelling
President Trump demanded that Iran promise never to build a nuclear weapon during his State of the Union address in Washington on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, as he weighs possible military action against the country while pressing Iranian leaders to reach a deal on its nuclear program. 'My preference is to solve this problem through diplomacy, but one thing is certain: I will never allow the world's number one sponsor of terror, which they are by far, to have a nuclear weapon,' the president said. 'Can't let that happen.' As the U.S. and Iran engage in indirect talks, Mr. Trump has suggested he may order strikes on Iran if it doesn't agree to curb its nuclear program. Meanwhile, a large fleet of U.S. naval vessels has been deployed to the Middle East as the president considers military options. The president has pressed advisers for options that would deliver a punishing strike substantial enough to compel Iranian leaders to return to negotiations under more favorable terms, though military planners have cautioned that such an outcome cannot be guaranteed. Mr. Trump hasn't said outright whether he plans to order strikes, telling CBS News chief Washington analyst Robert Costa in a brief phone call shortly before the address, 'we'll find out' how he will move forward on Iran. During the speech, Trump praised last summer's U.S. strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites, but alleged that Iranian officials are now 'pursuing their sinister ambitions' again. 'We wiped it out, and they want to start all over again,' he said. The president emphasized his desire for a specific commitment from Iran, stating, 'They want to make a deal, but we haven't heard those secret words: 'We will never have a nuclear weapon.''
🏷️ Themes
Diplomacy vs. Military Action, Nuclear Non-Proliferation, U.S.-Iran Relations
Annual report by the president of the United States
The State of the Union address (sometimes abbreviated to SOTU) is an annual message delivered by the president of the United States to a joint session of the United States Congress near the beginning of most calendar years on the current condition of the nation. The speech generally includes reports...
# Iran
**Iran**, officially the **Islamic Republic of Iran** and historically known as **Persia**, is a sovereign country situated in West Asia. It is a major regional power, ranking as the 17th-largest country in the world by both land area and population. Combining a rich historical legacy with a...
A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either nuclear fission (fission or atomic bomb) or a combination of fission and nuclear fusion reactions (thermonuclear weapon), producing a nuclear explosion. Both bomb types release large quantities ...
President of the United States (2017–2021; since 2025)
Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who is the 47th president of the United States. A member of the Republican Party, he served as the 45th president from 2017 to 2021.
Born into a wealthy New York City family, Trump graduated from the...
Politics Trump demands that Iran promise never to build a nuclear weapon in State of the Union address By Joe Walsh Joe Walsh Senior Editor, Politics Joe Walsh is a senior editor for digital politics at CBS News. Joe previously covered breaking news for Forbes and local news in Boston. Read Full Bio Joe Walsh February 24, 2026 / 11:25 PM EST / CBS News Add CBS News on Google President Trump pressed the Iranian government to reach a deal on its nuclear program during his State of the Union address Tuesday, as he weighs possible military action against the country. "My preference is to solve this problem through diplomacy, but one thing is certain: I will never allow the world's number one sponsor of terror, which they are by far, to have a nuclear weapon," the president said. "Can't let that happen." As the U.S. and Iran engage in indirect talks, Mr. Trump has suggested he may order strikes on Iran if it doesn't agree to curb its nuclear program. Meanwhile, a large fleet of U.S. naval vessels has been deployed to the Middle East. The president has pressed advisers for options that would deliver a punishing strike substantial enough to compel Iranian leaders to return to negotiations under more favorable terms, CBS News has previously reported , but military planners have cautioned that such an outcome cannot be guaranteed. Mr. Trump hasn't said outright whether he plans to order strikes. In a brief phone call shortly before the State of the Union address, the president told CBS News chief Washington analyst Robert Costa "we'll find out" how he will move forward on Iran. During the speech, Mr. Trump praised last summer's U.S. strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites, but alleged that Iranian officials are now "pursuing their sinister ambitions" again. "We wiped it out, and they want to start all over again," he said. The president suggested he wants a commitment from Iran not to build nuclear weapons. "They want to make a deal, but we haven't heard those secret words: '...
