President Donald Trump said Friday that Iran’s latest peace proposal failed to clear his most basic test: a complete commitment to ending its nuclear ambitions.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One while returning from China, Trump said he rejected the offer almost immediately after reading it.
“I looked at it, and if I don’t like the first sentence, I just throw it away,” Trump said.
When asked what the opening line said, Trump didn’t hesitate.
“An unacceptable sentence because they have fully agreed, no nuclear,” Trump said. “And if they have any nuclear of any form, I don’t read the rest of it.”
The exchange underscored just how hardline Trump remains as his administration pushes Tehran to abandon all nuclear activity following the recent U.S. military strikes on Iranian facilities.
A reporter then pressed the president on whether a proposed 20-year limitation on Iran’s nuclear program would be sufficient.
“So 20 years is not enough for you, it’s got to be a permanent…” the reporter asked.
“No, 20 years is enough,” Trump interjected. “But the level of guarantee from them is not enough. In other words, it’s got to be a real 20 years.”
The president again invoked his now-famous phrase “nuclear dust,” referring to enriched uranium buried beneath bombed Iranian nuclear sites.
The White House has demanded the material either be removed, secured or confiscated entirely. According to Trump, Iran initially appeared willing to cooperate before reversing course.
“They said that they can’t remove it because they don’t have the technology to remove it. They don’t have the type of tractors,” Trump said aboard Air Force One.
“They say the only one, they told me directly, they said the only one that can remove it is China or the US. We’re the only ones with the equipment.”
Trump said Iranian officials privately acknowledged the scale of destruction caused by the American strikes.
“They said you were right. It is a complete obliteration,” Trump added.
Still, Trump insisted the administration remains focused on securing the uranium material despite Iran’s apparent hesitation.
“With that being said, I want to get it,” Trump said. “And they agreed to it, but then they took it back. But they’ll agree to it eventually.”
The remarks suggest the administration is pursuing a dual-track strategy: military pressure backed by negotiations aimed at preventing Iran from ever rebuilding a viable nuclear weapons program.
For Trump, anything short of ironclad guarantees is dead on arrival.
Watch the clip below:
🚨 NOW: President Trump reveals he reads the FIRST SENTENCE of Iran’s proposal, then THROWS IT OUT if he doesn’t like it
“Well, I've looked at it, and if I don't like the first sentence, I just throw it away.” 🔥
Q: What was the first sentence?
TRUMP: “An unacceptable… pic.twitter.com/Ahvi3i9zEU
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) May 15, 2026
