Posted on 06/17/2026 12:43:41 PM PDT by dennisw
In a stunning departure from decades of established US foreign policy, President Donald Trump revealed that a forthcoming peace agreement with Iran will likely allow the regime to retain its conventional ballistic missiles.
Standing before reporters at the G7 meeting in France, the President argued that a complete ban is unrealistic because 'they got to have some.'
'What am I going to do? Am I going to let Saudi Arabia have missiles, but they can't have them?' Trump said during the briefing. 'Missiles aren't the problem. They hurt a little location, but they don't blow up the planet.'
A reporter pressed Trump, saying one of the goals of Epic Fury was to destroy Iran's ballistic missiles.
'What are they keeping? They have less than other nations now. The rest of them are underground. They can't even get them out,' Trump said in defense, adding that they have already knocked out about 85% of their missiles.
The President also said that he might stick around for the signing of the memorandum on Friday, but added that it 'might not be the kind of document' he should sign.
Then he half-jokingly said his Vice President could own the fallout if a deal goes south.
'I like that idea. This way, if it works out, I'm going to take the credit. If it doesn't work out, I'm blaming JD. You better be careful, JD. He's going to turn his plane around and get the hell out of here,' Trump said menacingly.
For months, Rubio centered his argument for military action against Iran on the necessity of neutralizing the nation's missile capabilities.
He labeled the regime's unwillingness to negotiate regarding its arsenal a 'big problem' and an 'unsustainable threat,' asserting that Tehran maintained weaponry 'solely designed to attack America and attack Americans.'
For generations, every American administration has maintained a strict 'red line' against Iran's ballistic missile capabilities.
The issue was a big criticism in President Barack Obama's 2015 agreement, which explicitly excluded missiles because Iran refused to negotiate them - a move that hawks, including Trump himself during his first term, heavily criticized.
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Pres DJT showing them how its really done!! Playing 5D chess against the IRGC apocalyptic pukes, and the smelly Ayatollahs in their flop sweat drenched turbans n robes.
On paper it looks like it’s a win for the regime, but in the long run this is an act of God’s grace for the people of Iran who have been suffering.
Well if was against US policy for decades, then how come they had so many?
The art of the deal indeed.
maybe he should read his own book.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran" having them (or even existing) does bother me.
I cannot imagine what Trump is up to, unless it's being able to wave around a peace treaty that maybe holds until after the midterm election.
I've been skeptical of Trump before, but now I'm getting cynical.
But yes, still better than Harris.
The problem with missiles is they leave a radar trail right back to the destination.
This is why Trump played the game with them.
Space Command identified every hidden base.
Screw the remaining missiles... This has been, and continues to be, about nuclear weapons!
Dig out and secure the uranium!
Nothing else matters to the U.S...
Knowing where they are after they fire them is not a benefit.
He’s got them this time!!!
lol.
Drip, drip, drip.
Little by little Trump is showing the world what a bleep show is coming.
Trump might be clowning us for giggles. I can see him and JD looking on at the East Ballroom construction project. And breaking down in laughter.
You can't leave a country defenseless. That's absurd.
Korea, Japan, Germany, Russia, Ukraine....every country (almost) has weaponry.
Israel, using proven Ukrainian methods, can take out Iran’s oil industry and nitric acid plants.
“He’s got them this time!!!”
5D chess in action. The IRGC don’t know what hit them. Trump is rocking the Ayatollahs world apocalypse. Mahdi? Bring it!
OBAMA DEAL
The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA...), more commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal or Iran deal, was an agreement to limit the Iranian nuclear program in return for sanctions relief and other provisions. The agreement was finalized in Vienna on 14 July 2015, between Iran and the P5+1 (the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)—China, France, Russia, the U.K., U.S.—plus Germany) together with the European Union.
Stocks
Over 15 years, Iran would reduce its stockpile of low-enriched uranium by 97%, from 10,000kg to 300kg, and limit enrichment to 3.67%, sufficient for civilian nuclear power and research, but not for weaponry. This represented a “major decline” in Iran’s nuclear activity. Iran had produced stockpiles near 20% (medium-enriched uranium). Stocks in excess of 300kg enriched up to 3.67% would be diluted to 0.7% or sold in return for uranium ore, while uranium enriched to between 5% and 20% was to be fabricated into fuel plates for the Tehran Research Reactor or sold or diluted to 3.67%. P5+1 agreed to facilitate commercial contracts.
After 15 years, all limits on enrichment would be removed, including limits on the type and number of centrifuges, Iran’s stocks of enriched uranium, and enrichment sites. According to Belfer, at this point Iran could “expand its nuclear program to create more practical overt and covert nuclear weapons options”.
Centrifuges
Iran initially possessed centrifuges sufficient for one nuclear weapon, but not for nuclear power. Over ten years, Iran would secure over two-thirds of its centrifuges in storage, reducing active units to 6,104 centrifuges, with only 5,060 allowed to enrich uranium. Enrichment would be restricted to the Natanz plant. The centrifuges there were limited to IR-1 centrifuges, Iran’s oldest and least efficient; Iran would warehouse its advanced IR-2M centrifuges during this period. Non-operating centrifuges would be stored in Natanz and monitored by IAEA, but could be used to replace failed centrifuges. Iran agreed to build no enrichment facilities for 15 years.
Research
Iran could continue research and development work on enrichment only at the Natanz facility and had to respect specific limitations for eight years. The intent was to maintain a one-year breakout interval.
Reactors
With cooperation from the “Working Group” (the P5+1 and possibly other countries), Iran was permitted to modernize the Arak heavy water research reactor based on an agreed design. Arak was to be limited to 20 MW (thermal) to support allowed research and production, while minimizing plutonium production and avoiding weapons-grade plutonium. Spent fuel was to be sent out of the country. All heavy water beyond Iran’s reactor needs was to be exportable. In exchange, Iran imported 130 tonnes of uranium ore in 2015 and in late 2016 was approved to import 130 tonnes in 2017. For 15 years Iran agreed not to research or engage in spent fuel reprocessing, build additional heavy-water reactors, or accumulate heavy water.
Fordow would stop researching and enriching uranium for at least 15 years. The facility was to be converted into a nuclear physics and technology center. For 15 years Fordow would maintain no more than 1,044 IR-1 centrifuges in six cascades in one wing. Two of the six cascades would be transitioned for stable radioisotope production for medical, agricultural, industrial, and scientific use. The other four would remain idle. Iran agreed to keep no fissile material there.
The IAEA was to have multilayered oversight “over Iran’s entire nuclear supply chain, from uranium mills to its procurement of nuclear-related technologies”. For sites such as Fordow and Natanz, the IAEA was to have 24-hour access to nuclear facilities and maintain continuous monitoring (including via surveillance equipment). The agreement authorized the IAEA to use sophisticated monitoring technology, such as fiber-optic equipment seals that could send the IAEA information; satellite imagery to detect covert sites; sensors to detect minute nuclear specimens; and tamper- and radiation-resistant cameras. Other tools included software to gather information and detect anomalies, and datasets on imports. The number of inspectors tripled to 150.
Inspectors could request access, informing Iran of the basis of the request, to verify the absence of prohibited activities and nuclear materials. The inspectors were to come only from countries with which Iran had diplomatic relations. Iran could either allow the inspection or propose alternatives that satisfied the IAEA’s concerns. If the inspectors were not satisfied, a 24-day process would ensue. Iran and the IAEA were to have 14 days to reach agreement. For the following week a majority of the commission could require Iran to take specific actions within three more days. This allowed the U.S. and its allies to insist on responses that Iran, Russia or China could not veto. After three days of non-compliance, sanctions would be automatically reimposed.
Sanctions
Iran had to submit a full report on its nuclear history before it could receive any sanctions relief. At the time of the agreement, Iran was subject to a variety of sanctions imposed by an array of organizations. Once IAEA verified compliance with the nuclear-related measures, U.N. sanctions would terminate. Some E.U. sanctions would terminate and some would suspend. That would allow Iran to recover approximately $100 billion of its assets frozen in overseas banks. No U.N. or E.U. nuclear-related sanctions or restrictive measures were to be imposed.
Additional E.U. sanctions would be lifted after eight years of compliance, including some on the Revolutionary Guards.
The U.S. agreed to suspend its nuclear-related secondary sanctions. This was not tied to a date or compliance but was expected to occur “roughly in the first half of 2016”. Some sanctions would continue: those on conventional weapon sales for five years; those on ballistic missile technologies for eight.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran_nuclear_deal
Enforcement stopped with Obama.
This is exactly the kind of foreign policy President Trump had promoted for years before abandoning it over the last twelve months.
Now let's see if the same rationale can be applied in a similar context ...
"What am I going to do? Am I going to let Israel have nuclear arms, but they can't have them?" Trump said during the briefing.
jaw-dropping!
https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2015/08/05/remarks-President-iran-nuclear-deal
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