U.S. President Donald Trump said nuclear talks with Iran are going smoothly but again warned that if the deal falls apart, he will launch large-scale attacks on key infrastructure such as Iran's bridges and power plants.
Trump said in a phone interview with Fox News on the 28th (local time), "We have had very good conversations with Iran," adding, "They will never have nuclear weapons, and they know that well." He added, "We are in a very strong position right now."
He said he would take military action if the talks fail, saying, "They know that if they don't make a deal, I will strike," and added, "The bridges will literally be gone in less than an hour, and most of the major bridges will be gone within two hours. Power plants would be eliminated in a day."
However, he said, "If it can be avoided, I want to avoid doing that," and, calling power plants the most difficult facilities to build and bridges the facilities that take the longest to restore, he repeatedly pressed Iran to reach a deal. On seawater desalination facilities, he said, "Civilians would be harmed," stating they would be excluded from targets.
Trump also bristled at reports that Benjamin Netanyahu, whom he was set to meet at the White House that day, would raise the issue of "Pickaxe Mountain," known as one of Iran's underground nuclear facilities.
He said, "Bibi (Netanyahu's nickname) doesn't need to tell me that," adding, "I know exactly what is going on at Pickaxe Mountain." He continued, "We have already eliminated Iran's nuclear facilities," and added, "If there is no deal, Pickaxe Mountain will have to be eliminated as well."
Trump also claimed, "Frankly, if I were not the U.S. president, Israel as it exists today would not exist."
Trump's remarks come as the United States and Iran continue nuclear talks. The United States has maintained its will to resolve the issue through negotiations while repeatedly saying it will step up military pressure if a deal collapses. Israel is raising the need for additional responses to Iran's underground nuclear facilities.