Trump Says Only the U.S. and China Can Extract Iran's Enriched Uranium

U.S. President Donald Trump said at the White House that underground nuclear facilities in Iran, which were struck by U.S. forces, have been "completely destroyed," making the enriched uranium buried within extremely difficult to retrieve. He further claimed that only the United States and China possess equipment powerful enough to reach deep beneath mountainous terrain and access these nuclear materials—but due to the collapse of the facilities, even recovery would now be exceedingly challenging.

Later Thursday in the Oval Office at the White House, Trump told reporters that previous U.S. attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities had caused devastating destruction.

"We attacked their nuclear facilities, and those facilities have been completely destroyed," he stated.

Trump also reiterated criticism of certain American media outlets that had questioned the effectiveness of the strikes. He specifically named CNN, saying the network had previously believed Iran’s nuclear facilities might not have suffered serious damage.

According to Trump, some of Iran’s enriched uranium remains buried within collapsed underground nuclear facilities following the bombing. He noted that these facilities lie deep within mountains, and that explosions and subsequent collapses have rendered the entire area nearly inaccessible.

"The only ones capable of retrieving it are us and China," he said.

Trump added: "We are the only nation with such equipment; I believe China also has it. The equipment must be strong enough to penetrate deep into mountain rock—yet the mountain itself has already crushed it."

When discussing assessments by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Trump said the agency shares the U.S. view that accessing buried nuclear material would present immense challenges. Nevertheless, he maintained that the United States still possesses the capability to obtain this enriched uranium if it chooses.

"We could take it right now. I don’t think they could stop us if we wanted to—but there’s no reason to do so," he said.

Trump’s latest remarks come amid ongoing nuclear negotiations between Washington and Tehran. In recent months, the U.S. and Iran have maintained contact through multiple channels in hopes of breaking the deadlock over Iran’s nuclear program and sanctions, though significant differences remain.

During the same conversation, Trump also addressed the possibility of meeting Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. As negotiations progress, Khamenei has reportedly become more actively involved in decision-making, making direct contact between the two leaders a focal point of attention.

When asked by Fox News whether he would be willing to meet Khamenei in the U.S., Trump said he could not rule out the possibility—if a deal could be reached.

Trump even went further, stating: "I would feel honored to meet with him."

Still, he acknowledged that relations between the two sides are not particularly close. Yet, he affirmed his willingness to treat the other side with respect. "If it actually happens, I will maintain respect," he added.

However, Trump also noted that he does not particularly desire such a meeting at this time. He believes whether or not a summit takes place ultimately depends on tangible progress in future negotiations.

Analysts suggest that while Trump emphasizes the severe damage inflicted on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure—highlighting the success of U.S. military action—he simultaneously signals openness to meeting Iran’s supreme leader after a potential agreement, indicating that the administration still seeks a diplomatic resolution to the Iranian nuclear issue.

Trump’s specific mention of China possessing comparable deep underground engineering capabilities has drawn international attention. For years, both the U.S. and China have developed advanced expertise in large-scale underground projects, mining operations, and military bunker construction—leading Trump to conclude that only these two nations can access deeply buried nuclear facilities. However, he did not specify the exact type of equipment involved or provide technical details.

To date, Iran has not publicly responded to Trump’s latest claims regarding the extent of damage to its nuclear facilities or the current status of its enriched uranium. The international community continues to closely monitor developments in U.S.-Iran talks and the future trajectory of Iran’s nuclear program, as these developments could significantly impact Middle Eastern stability, global energy markets, and the international nuclear non-proliferation regime.

As negotiations continue, whether the Trump administration will reach a new agreement on nuclear issues with Iran—and whether historic high-level meetings between the two countries could occur—will remain central topics of interest on the global diplomatic stage.

Source: rfi

Original: toutiao.com/article/1867221333084235/

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