‘Total Dismantlement … That’s All I’d Accept’: Trump On Iran’s Nuclear Program

On Sunday, speaking on NBC’s “Meet The Press,” President Trump reiterated his perspective that he will only settle for the total dismantlement of Iran’s nuclear program.

NBC News’ Kristin Welker asked, “Your administration has had conversations with Iran. Is the goal of these talks limiting Iran’s nuclear program or total dismantlement?”

“Total dismantlement,” Trump said bluntly.

“That’s all you’ll accept?” Welker persisted.

“Yeah, that’s all I’d accept,” Trump replied. “Now, there’s a new theory going out there that Iran would be allowed to have civilian — meaning to make electricity and to — but I say, you know, they have so much oil, what do they need it for? But you know, I’ve seen it with other states, where they’re looking to do something and they have a lot of oil. Iran has tremendous energy. You know I put sanctions, if you know that, I put pretty strong sanctions on two days ago, on the oil.”

 “It’s interesting what you’re saying, though,” Welker pressed. “Because Secretary Rubio has said that he would accept, or the idea is that there is an openness to accepting a peaceful, civil nuclear program.”

“Well that’s what people — I didn’t say anything contradictory,” Trump answered. “I said that people are talking about that. And this is something that’s really pretty new in the dialogue. And I’d have to be, you know, my inclination is to say, ‘What do you need that for? You have a lot of oil.’”

“So you want total dismantlement, bottom line?” Welker asked.

“I think that I would be open to hearing it, you know? Civilian energy, it’s called,” Trump answered. “But you know, civilian energy often leads to military wars. And we don’t wanna have them have a nuclear weapon. It’s a very simple deal. I want Iran to be really successful, really great, really fantastic. The only thing they can’t have is a nuclear weapon. If they want to be successful, that’s okay. I want them to be so successful. And you know, the Iranian people are incredible. I just don’t want them to have a nuclear weapon because the world will be destroyed.”