Washington DC — President Donald Trump declared on Tuesday that Iran has agreed to his core demand that it will never possess a nuclear weapon as the United States prepares to deploy approximately 3,000 elite airborne soldiers to the Middle East while simultaneously pursuing ceasefire talks with Tehran.
“They’re talking to us and they’re talking sense. And remember, it all starts with they cannot have a nuclear weapon that’s number one, two and three. They will never have a nuclear weapon. They’ve agreed to that,” Trump said at a swearing-in ceremony for Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin.
Iran has not confirmed any agreement. Iranian Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Monday that “no talks with the US have taken place” and that reports to the contrary were “fake news aimed at influencing financial and oil markets.”
Trump dismissed Iran’s denials, saying Tehran is talking to “the right people” and that its leaders “want to make a deal so badly, you have no idea how badly they want to make a deal.”
He also hinted that Iran had already provided a significant concession, describing it as “a very big present worth a tremendous amount of money” that was “oil and gas related” — without elaborating further.
No Nuclear Dust — Trump’s Core Demand
The no-nukes demand has been the consistent thread running through Trump’s public statements since Operation Epic Fury began on February 28.
“We want the nuclear dust. We’re going to want that,” Trump told reporters as he left Florida on Monday, referring to Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium.
Last summer’s Operation Midnight Hammer strikes “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear weapons programme, according to Trump but he said the current campaign is aimed at preventing Iran from rebuilding that capability.
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth set out the military objective in the clearest terms on March 2: “This operation is a clear, devastating, decisive mission destroy the missile threat, destroy the navy, no nukes,” as reported by NBC News.
Vice President JD Vance has also stated categorically: “Iran can never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon. That is the goal of this operation and President Trump will see it through to completion.”
Iran had previously committed to not building a nuclear weapon as part of earlier negotiations with the West yet continued to enrich uranium to levels approaching weapons grade, which US officials said justified the current campaign.
3,000 Elite Paratroopers Heading to the Middle East
As talks continue, the Pentagon is preparing to announce the deployment of a 3,000-strong brigade combat team from the 82nd Airborne Division one of the US military’s premier rapid-response forces, based at Fort Bragg in North Carolina.
The Wall Street Journal first reported the deployment, citing US officials. ABC News separately confirmed the mobilisation, saying the deployment order was being finalised on Tuesday.
The 82nd Airborne is designed to deploy a battalion anywhere in the world within 18 hours and a full brigade within 72 hours. The division specialises in seizing contested territory by parachuting from aircraft making it suited to operations that require speed and surprise. The unit is light infantry and does not deploy with tanks or heavy armoured vehicles.
The deployment adds to a significant US military build-up already underway. A Marine expeditionary unit carrying approximately 2,200 Marines aboard the USS Boxer and accompanying warships was separately ordered to the region last week.
A White House official told Axios that Trump “wants Hormuz open” and that if he concludes he needs to take Kharg Island which handles approximately 90% of Iranian oil exports to make that happen, “that’s going to happen.”
Five-Day Window — Deal or ‘Bombing Our Little Hearts Out’
Trump struck an unusually optimistic tone about the prospect of a deal, but made clear he is not guaranteeing one.
“We’re doing a five-day period. We’ll see how that goes, and if it goes well, we’re going to end up with settling this otherwise we just keep bombing our little hearts out,” Trump said, as reported by ABC News.
“All I’m saying is we are in the throes of a real possibility of making a deal. And I think, if I were a betting man, I’d bet for it. But again, I’m not guaranteeing anything,” he said.
He added that Israel would be “very happy” with any peace agreement reached.
Trump also said the US is “roaming free over Tehran” and “can do whatever we want” underscoring the military dominance he believes gives Washington the leverage to extract concessions from Iran.
Iran’s Position — Contradictory Signals
Iran’s public messaging has been contradictory throughout the past week.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told CBS News on Sunday that Tehran has “never asked for a ceasefire” and “never asked even for negotiation.” He said Iran has not shut the Strait of Hormuz but that US and Israeli ships would not be allowed to pass, adding that several countries were already negotiating with Iran on safe shipping passage, as reported by Newsweek.
Ghalibaf, meanwhile, said on Monday that all reports of talks were fabricated.
Yet according to the Arms Control Association, Iran had before the war been offering to pause uranium enrichment and scale future enrichment only to reactor-fuel levels a position that, if revived, could form the basis of a deal. Three rounds of nuclear negotiations mediated by Oman had taken place prior to the February 28 opening strikes.
The conflict is now in its 25th day. More than 1,300 people have been killed in Iran, at least 850 in Lebanon, and 12 in Israel, according to humanitarian groups and government figures. Thirteen US service members have been killed in action. Saudi Arabia has warned military retaliation against Iran is on the table. 22 nations have declared readiness to support safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Netanyahu declared last week that Iran can no longer enrich uranium or manufacture ballistic missiles.
For the latest on the Iran conflict and Operation Epic Fury, visit M10News.com.
This is a developing story. Updates will follow as more facts are confirmed.
