Trump Says US ‘Locked and Loaded’ on Iran but Prioritises Diplomacy to Prevent Nuclear Weapons

Washington, July 2026: US President Donald Trump on Friday said the United States remains fully prepared for military action against Iran but emphasised that his administration continues to pursue diplomacy, describing negotiations as the preferred path if Tehran agrees to abandon its nuclear weapons ambitions.

Speaking during a White House event marking progress in America’s civilian nuclear energy programme, Trump reiterated that while the US military was ready to escalate operations if necessary, Washington was actively engaged in discussions with Iranian representatives and believed there was still an opportunity to reach a negotiated settlement.

“Look, we’re talking to them right now,” Trump said when asked whether he had decided on broader military strikes against Iran. “We’re locked and loaded and ready to go, but we’re talking to them, so I think while we’re talking, we’ll see what comes of it.”

The President outlined what he described as two possible paths before Iran. One, he said, involved increased military pressure, while the other centred on diplomacy and a negotiated agreement that would permanently prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

“There’s a military exit where we just keep going the way we are, and we can even make it a heavier dose,” Trump said. “Or there’s a smarter strategy where you make a deal, and they want to make a deal. I just don’t think they’re ready yet.”

Despite his caution, Trump suggested that Iran appeared more serious about negotiations than at any point in recent years.

“I think they’re being serious. I think they are being by far the most serious that we’ve seen them, but that doesn’t mean we get there. We’ll see what happens,” he remarked.

Reiterating a position he has consistently maintained throughout his presidency, Trump said preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons remains a non-negotiable objective for the United States.

“They cannot have a nuclear weapon,” he declared. “Very, very simple actually.”

He warned that any indication Iran was attempting to develop such weapons would trigger a far stronger American response.

“If they have even a thought of a nuclear weapon, we will just continue to go at much higher levels,” Trump said, signalling that military options remain firmly on the table should diplomacy fail.

The President disclosed that senior members of his administration, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, are directly involved in the ongoing diplomatic engagement.

“JD and Marco and a lot of people are talking to a lot of people,” he said, without elaborating on the specific nature or venue of the discussions.

Trump also claimed that sustained American military pressure had significantly weakened Iran’s leadership and military establishment, arguing that the campaign had altered the strategic balance in the region.

“We’ve taken out their first level of leadership. We’ve then taken out their second level of leadership. We’ve taken out some of the third level, and we’re negotiating with the rest,” he said.

According to Trump, the sustained pressure has left Tehran with limited strategic choices.

“They sort of have to make a deal,” he asserted.

Addressing questions about the role of Russia and China, Trump said both countries had so far refrained from directly assisting Iran despite maintaining close relations with Tehran.

“I will tell you that President Xi said he will not partake and President Putin said the same thing,” Trump said.

“I trust them,” he added, while acknowledging that Iran has longstanding ties with both Beijing and Moscow.

“Thus far at least, it has not been major,” he noted, referring to any potential support provided by the two countries.

The President also defended previous US military operations targeting Iranian facilities, claiming they had prevented Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons and contributed significantly to regional security.

“If I wasn’t elected, Israel would, in my opinion, not be around anymore,” Trump said.

He praised the role of the US Air Force, particularly the deployment of B-2 stealth bombers, saying the strikes had destroyed critical Iranian infrastructure linked to its nuclear programme.

“If that didn’t happen, they would have had a nuclear weapon and there would be no Israel,” he claimed.

Trump further argued that Iran’s conventional military capabilities had been substantially degraded following American operations.

“They have no Navy, no air force, no anti-aircraft, no radar, no nothing,” he said, describing Iran’s military position as significantly weakened.

Despite repeatedly emphasising military preparedness, Trump stressed that diplomacy remained his preferred course of action.

“I always prefer that alternative,” he said, referring to negotiations over armed conflict.

The President’s remarks reinforce the administration’s strategy of combining diplomatic engagement with military deterrence in an effort to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Throughout successive US administrations, Washington has relied on a mix of economic sanctions, military pressure and negotiations to curb Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.

Iran, for its part, has consistently maintained that its nuclear programme is intended solely for peaceful civilian purposes. However, the United States and several Western allies have long expressed concerns that the programme could eventually provide Tehran with the capability to develop nuclear weapons, making the issue one of the most contentious challenges in Middle East security and global non-proliferation efforts.