Trump discusses potential Iran deal

President Donald Trump said on May 24 that he would back a U.S.-Iran agreement that he cast as fundamentally different from the 2015 nuclear deal negotiated under former President Barack Obama. In a Truth Social post, Trump said the Obama-era accord was “one of the worst deals ever made” and described the arrangement now under discussion as “the exact opposite.” He said the talks were moving forward in an “orderly and constructive manner,” but added that he had told U.S. representatives not to rush. Trump also said any deal must ensure that Iran “cannot develop or procure a Nuclear Weapon or Bomb.” ### What did Trump actually say on May 24? Trump wrote at 10:10 a.m. on May 24 that the Obama administration’s Iran nuclear agreement was “a direct path to Iran developing a Nuclear Weapon.” He said the deal now being negotiated by his administration was “the exact opposite, in fact,” and said both sides needed to “take their time and get it right.” The same post said the negotiations were proceeding in an “orderly and constructive manner.” Trump said he had instructed his representatives “not to rush into a deal in that time is on our side,” and he said the blockade would remain “in full force and effect until an agreement is reached, certified, and signed.” (trumpstruth.org) ### How does this fit with the comments circulating on social media? (trumpstruth.org) Posts on X on May 24 highlighted Trump’s effort to draw a contrast with Obama’s deal and to frame a new agreement as one that would deny Iran both money and a route to a bomb, according to the social-media briefing provided for this story. The verified public record available in Trump’s own post includes his language that the earlier deal was a “direct path” to a nuclear weapon and that Iran “cannot develop or procure a Nuclear Weapon or Bomb.” (trumpstruth.org) Trump’s May 24 post did not, in the text reviewed, include a “no cash” line. But his message matched the broader theme circulating online: that he was presenting any prospective agreement as tougher than the Obama-era framework and as one that would keep pressure on Tehran while talks continued. ### Was Trump talking about a final agreement or an ongoing negotiation? Reuters reported on May 24 that Trump’s comments appeared to cool expectations of an immediate breakthrough after both sides had suggested progress a day earlier. (trumpstruth.org) The Reuters report said Trump told his representatives not to rush into any deal with Iran. Associated Press reported on May 24 that details of a possible U.S.-Iran arrangement were beginning to emerge after Trump said an agreement had been “largely negotiated” following talks with regional allies. (trumpstruth.org) CNBC and Bloomberg also reported that Trump said negotiators were getting closer while stressing that the United States should not move too quickly. (aol.com) ### What was Trump contrasting this with? Trump explicitly targeted the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement reached under Obama. In his May 24 post, he said that accord was put forward by Obama and “the rank amateurs of the Obama Administration,” and he said it gave Iran a route toward a nuclear weapon. That comparison has become central to how Trump is describing the current talks. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported on May 24 that Trump had favorably compared his administration’s approach with the 2015 agreement, which he called “one of the worst deals ever made.” (abcnews.com) ### What comes next in the negotiations? Trump said on May 24 that the blockade would remain in place until an agreement is “reached, certified, and signed.” He also said the “final aspects” of a possible arrangement would be announced later, but he did not provide a date or release terms in the post reviewed. (trumpstruth.org) Regional diplomacy was still active on May 24. AP reported that discussions involved broader efforts to end the conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, while Reuters said Trump was signaling caution even as negotiators worked toward a possible deal. (rferl.org) (abcnews.com) (trumpstruth.org)