At a Republican gathering in Dallas, Texas, former President Donald Trump told supporters that if Iran had a nuclear weapon, he would “politely” call the country’s Supreme Leader rather than “bombing the crap” out of Iran, according to reporting by Dave DeCamp at Antiwar.com.
“If they had a nuclear weapon, I’d be calling the Supreme Leader, and I’d be saying, ‘Mr. Supreme Leader, how are you, sir? Is there anything we can do for you?’ as opposed to bombing the crap out of him,” Trump said, per Antiwar.com, adding: “It’s very simple. We cannot let them have a nuclear weapon.” Antiwar.com reported the line drew cheers.
US intelligence in 2025: no active Iranian bomb program
Antiwar.com contrasts Trump’s framing with a 2025 assessment by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). Quoting the ODNI’s annual threat assessment published in March 2025, Antiwar.com reports: “We continue to assess Iran is not building a nuclear weapon and that Khamenei has not reauthorized the nuclear weapons program he suspended in 2003, though pressure has probably built on him to do so.” Antiwar.com describes the document as representing the view of the US intelligence community at the start of Trump’s second term.
Post–12‑Day War boasts and Iran’s stated offer on enrichment
Antiwar.com reports that in the months after the June 2025 conflict—referred to as the 12‑Day War—Trump boasted that US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear program.
Before both wars, Antiwar.com states that during negotiations with Washington, Iran said it was willing to reduce uranium enrichment to 3.67%, the limit set by the 2015 nuclear deal—far below the roughly 90% commonly cited as weapons‑grade.
A dissenting US official’s view
According to Antiwar.com, Joe Kent, identified as the former director of the National Counterterrorism Center who resigned over opposition to the Iran war, argued the administration adopted the Israeli position, conflating any civilian nuclear enrichment with a drive for a bomb.
Source: Dave DeCamp, Antiwar.com. Antiwar.com’s report includes Trump’s remarks, the ODNI quote, and additional context on the 12‑Day War and negotiations.
