Former U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Iran, asserting that Tehran would confront "unbelievable consequences" should it attempt to develop, purchase, or otherwise acquire Iran nuclear weapons. Speaking on June 16, 2026, Trump underscored that preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear capabilities remains his paramount objective.
Toughening the Nuclear Deal Language
During a meeting with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France, Trump recounted his efforts to strengthen the language of the Iran nuclear agreement. He stated that while the original draft focused on not developing nuclear weapons, he insisted on broader terms.
"They originally wrote that you should not develop a nuclear weapon. I said, 'No, no. You're not going to develop it. You're not going to buy either,'" Trump explained, adding that the final formulation now explicitly prohibits Iran from developing, purchasing, buying, or doing "anything else" to acquire a nuclear weapon. "If they do, all hell will rain down on them."
Trump reiterated that the implications for any violation would be severe, referring to them as "the ultimate consequences."
A Different Approach from Previous Administrations
The former president also drew a clear distinction between his administration's approach to Iran and that of former President Barack Obama. Trump highlighted that the United States was not "investing any money" in arrangements with Iran, contrasting it with what he described as billions paid out under Obama's deal.
"We didn't pay for it like Obama did. He paid billions of dollars. He paid 1.7 billion from an airplane, all green cash. It was crazy," Trump remarked, emphasizing a more financially detached stance.
Regime Change Not the Objective
Addressing ongoing speculation, Trump clarified that regime change in Iran was not a goal he supported or pursued. He stated, "I never cared about regime change. It's never a part."
Instead, Trump expressed a belief that current Iranian leadership figures were "very rational people" and "smarter than the first and second group," suggesting a willingness to engage with them. He concluded that historical attempts at engineering political transitions abroad have largely proven ineffective. "I don't believe the regime change. I've watched regime changes for years. They never work," he asserted.