Washington, Aug 1, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
US President Donald Trump has said the United States will continue military operations against Iran until it no longer poses a threat to American forces or has the capability to develop a nuclear weapon, while expressing growing scepticism over the prospects of a negotiated settlement with Tehran.
Speaking to reporters after chairing what the White House described as the first live televised Cabinet meeting at Camp David, Trump said his administration would sustain military and economic pressure despite ongoing diplomatic engagement with Iran.
“We’ll be hitting them very hard and, at some point, they’re going to say, we just can’t take it anymore,” Trump said, reiterating that preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons remained Washington’s foremost objective.
“Iran will not have a nuclear weapon,” he said, adding that such an outcome was central to US national security policy.
The President claimed Iran had suffered significant military setbacks, asserting that much of its naval and air capabilities had been destroyed, though he acknowledged the country retained some limited military capacity.
Trump also questioned the credibility of Iran’s leadership during negotiations, saying his confidence in reaching an agreement had diminished. Referring to a recent incident, he said diplomatic efforts were overshadowed after Iran allegedly launched missiles at a US base in Jordan. According to Trump, all five missiles were intercepted by American forces.
The US President further linked the military campaign against Iran to progress in regional diplomacy, claiming an understanding had been reached with Israel on a proposed agreement involving the disarmament of Hamas. He argued that such developments would not have been possible without sustained pressure on Tehran.
Asked whether Americans should expect further military exchanges with Iran, Trump suggested additional confrontation was likely but predicted Iran’s capabilities would continue to weaken over time.
During the interaction, Trump also addressed the war in Ukraine, confirming that discussions were continuing over possible transfers of advanced US defence systems, including Patriot air defence batteries and Tomahawk missiles, while stressing that such technology would be shared cautiously because of its strategic importance.
On the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Trump said a lasting peace would require compromises from both sides, adding that the ongoing war continued to claim thousands of lives every month.
The Cabinet meeting at Camp David also covered the administration’s priorities on the economy, healthcare, defence, foreign policy and domestic governance before reporters questioned the President on international security issues.
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