President Donald Trump outlined the strict conditions Iran must meet to end Operation Epic Fury during a press gaggle on Monday. The President announced a five-day pause on planned strikes against Iranian power plants as bilateral talks begin. He spoke to reporters before boarding Air Force One for an event in Memphis.
Trump emphasized that the administration's primary goal remains the complete denuclearization of the Iranian regime. "We’re looking for all of the things that we’ve been talking about," Trump told reporters. "We want to see no nuclear bomb, no nuclear weapon, not even close to it, low-key on the missiles."
The President also detailed plans to remove existing nuclear materials from the country. "We want the nuclear dust, we’re going to want that, and I think we’re going to get that," he added. Trump confirmed that the United States intends to take physical custody of Iran's enriched uranium.
"We’ve agreed to that, yes, we’ve agreed to that uranium … we want no enrichment, but we also want the enriched uranium," Trump continued. He noted that a successful deal would allow Iran to rebuild while ensuring safety for Israel and other Middle Eastern nations. The President specifically mentioned that the agreement would greatly benefit Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain.
Operation Epic Fury was launched in late February after negotiations regarding Iran’s nuclear capabilities broke down. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff recently noted that Iranian diplomats had previously claimed to possess enough material for nearly a dozen weapons. Trump assured reporters that securing these materials would be a straightforward process for the United States.
"It’s very easy," Trump told reporters regarding the logistics of the transfer. "If we have a deal with them, we’re going down and we’ll take it ourselves." This firm stance aligns with the administration's ongoing commitment to preventing a nuclear-armed Iran.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has also maintained a strong posture regarding the operation's objectives. During a recent press briefing, Hegseth refused to rule out the use of ground troops to seize the nuclear materials. "We’ve said from the beginning, denying Iran nuclear weapons is a core mission," Hegseth told reporters.
Hegseth emphasized that the military retains a wide spectrum of options to ensure Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon. "I would never tell this group or the world what we’re willing to do or how far we’re willing to go, but we have options for sure," Hegseth said. The administration continues to project strength as the five-day negotiation window progresses.