United States Tensions Rise as Trump Softens Stance on Iran Missiles at G7
President Trump has softened his stance on Iran's ballistic missiles, stating they are not the central problem and suggesting it may be acceptable for Iran to possess them in relative proportion to other regional powers, even as the United States and Iran prepare technical talks in Switzerland and United States tensions escalate with Italy's Giorgia Meloni over support during the Iran conflict.
Trump Shifts Position on Iranian Missiles at G7
President Trump said at the G7 that missiles are not the problem because they hurt a little location but do not blow up the planet. He added that if other countries have them it is a little bit unfair for Iran not to have some, and that if Saudi Arabia and Qatar have some then in relative proportion it is okay. Trump stated he is not going to let Saudi Arabia have missiles but Iran cannot have them because it does not work that way. These remarks came while discussing whether Iran should be permitted to retain missile capabilities in a news conference at the G7 in Évian-les-Bains, France, just as details of the memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran were being released. [3]
For months senior Trump administration officials argued that Iran's ballistic missile arsenal helped shield Tehran's nuclear ambitions and was a key reason the United States launched Operation Epic Fury attacks on the country. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters in a press conference on March 3 that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon and the United States will not allow Iran to hide behind the immunity of a massive short-term ballistic missile inventory or the ability to make them or launch them. Rubio said Iran is trying to build a conventional weapons capability as a shield to hide behind. [3]
In remarks at the White House on March 2 Trump said the objectives are clear and first the United States is destroying Iran's missile capabilities and their capacity to produce brand new ones. War Secretary Pete Hegseth said on March 4 the mission was laser-focused on obliterating Iran's missiles and the facilities that produce them. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on March 4 one of the administration's primary goals was to destroy the regime's deadly ballistic missiles and completely raze their missile industry to the ground. Rubio repeatedly returned to the theme throughout the operation arguing that degrading Iran's missile force was necessary to prevent Iran from using conventional military power as cover for a future nuclear weapons program. [3]
US-Iran Technical Talks Scheduled in Switzerland
Pakistan's Foreign Ministry announced Saturday that technical-level talks involving representatives of the United States and Iran will take place Sunday in Bürgenstock, Switzerland, as part of efforts to advance the recently signed Islamabad memorandum of understanding. [1] Trump's comments at the G7 came as details of a US-Iran memorandum of understanding were released which leaves unresolved the future of Iran's uranium enrichment program after 60 days of negotiations on its near-weapons-grade stockpile. [3]
Under the framework agreement unveiled this week the United States and Iran agreed to spend 60 days negotiating the fate of Iran's nearly 900-pound stockpile of near-weapons-grade 60% enriched uranium and any future enrichment activities. Administration officials said the minimum outcome under discussion would involve down-blending the material under International Atomic Energy Agency supervision while acknowledging that key details of a final agreement remain unsettled. Officials described Iran's willingness to dilute its stockpile as a significant concession but also acknowledged that the memorandum does not resolve whether Iran will ultimately be permitted to retain any enrichment capability. [3]
United States Tensions Escalate in Diplomatic Spat with Italy's Meloni
US president accuses Italian prime minister of denying military base access during Iran war despite Washington's multibillion-dollar protection of NATO. [2] Trump escalated a diplomatic row with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Saturday accusing her of repeatedly seeking a photograph with him and linking the dispute to tensions over Iran and NATO. Trump had initially told Italian broadcaster La7 that Meloni begged him for a picture at this week's G7 summit in France saying he agreed only because he felt sorry for her. Meloni angrily denied the claim calling it made up but Trump doubled down in a post on Truth Social saying Meloni had asked over and over for a photograph during the summit. [4]
Trump also accused her of trying to repair relations with Washington for domestic political reasons after Italy failed to support US action against Iran. Trump wrote now after the United States defeated Iran militarily she wants to be friends again in order to get her numbers up no thanks. He said Meloni was doing poorly in Italy and suggested this was linked to her refusal to let the United States use Italian landing strips or runways during the conflict with Iran. Trump also revived his long-running complaint that the United States spends heavily to protect so-called NATO allies saying Washington contributes hundreds of billions of dollars to defend Italy and others. [4]
Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani canceled a planned visit to the United States saying on Friday that Trump's grave and offensive words toward Meloni offend the whole of Italy. Meloni who leads Italy's far-right Brothers of Italy party said she was frankly stunned by Trump's original comments. She also accused Trump of showing more deference to the West's adversaries than to its partners. [4]
Iran Recloses Strait of Hormuz Amid Lebanon Strikes
Iran on Saturday closed the Strait of Hormuz again after Israeli strikes in Lebanon killed at least 26 people threatening the memorandum of understanding it had digitally signed with the United States to negotiate the terms of a truce. The move marked a sharp reversal from US-Iran arrangement under which Tehran had agreed to waive planned transit fees for vessels using the strait during a 60-day negotiation period under the MoU signed with the United States. [5]
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy has warned vessels not to approach the Strait of Hormuz and said their security would be at risk. In a statement the IRGC Navy further cited Israeli actions in Lebanon and Washington’s violation of its ceasefire commitments as the reason behind Tehran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz. It is hereby announced that the Strait of Hormuz will be closed to vessel traffic; It is noted that this first step is a response to the enemy's breach of promise and if the aggression continues further steps will be planned and taken to force the enemy to comply with its obligations said the Khatam-al Anbiya Central Headquarters in a statement carried by state TV. [5]
United States vice president JD Vance said he was confident the ceasefire could hold adding that there was no evidence Iran was closing the Strait of Hormuz. The closure came amid renewed uncertainty over the broader Iran deal. Israel and the Hezbollah militant group had agreed on Friday to halt attacks on each other after talks between the US and Iran were called off due to intense fighting in southern Lebanon which deepened doubts over the initial agreement aimed at ending the war involving Iran. [5]
Questions Raised on US Approach to Iran Nuclear Program
Trump's comments also come as the administration pursues a memorandum of understanding with Iran that leaves unresolved one of the central disputes in the nuclear negotiations the future of Tehran's enrichment program. Trump appeared to strike a more accommodating tone when discussing Iran's access to nuclear power at the G7. It is a little hard though when you say that somebody wants it other people have it other adjoining states have it and you are not letting them have it for purposes of electricity and things like that Trump said. It's always a little tough you have to use a little common sense. [3]
The administration had previously drawn a much harder line on Iran's nuclear program. Special envoy Steve Witkoff said the United States could not allow Iran to retain even 1 percent enrichment capability while White House officials repeatedly described the end of Iranian enrichment as a red line. The White House referred back to Trump's recent remarks on missiles when asked for additional comment. We are going to let the President's comments stand a State Department spokesperson said when asked for comment. [3]
What to watch next: Technical-level talks involving representatives of the United States and Iran will take place Sunday in Bürgenstock, Switzerland, as part of efforts to advance the recently signed Islamabad memorandum of understanding while Iran has warned of further steps if aggression continues.
