Trump’s latest statements portray the campaign as a decisive denuclearization. Yet shifting claims and rising costs leave key questions about the war’s justification unanswered.

When Donald Trump began the conflict with Iran in February, he cited an allegedly imminent nuclear threat. But eight months earlier he claimed that the program had been completely destroyed.

Two weeks before hostilities began, Trump asserted that the U.S. and Israel strikes in June 2025 had deprived Iran of even the potential to possess nuclear weapons.

Now, after more than four months of war and large costs for the United States and the global economy, efforts to obtain nuclear materials and broker a deal that would deter Iran from nuclear weapons suddenly take on dubious approaches: is such a deal even necessary?

He argues that the war has already been a success because Iran has allegedly denuclearized.

It seems that Iran’s program has remarkably returned to a “destroyed” state – just as efforts toward a deal appear to be collapsing.

I was there for one reason: Iran cannot have nuclear weapons. I call this denuclearization of Iran. And it happened; they will never have nuclear weapons.

– Donald Trump

In a speech at the NATO summit in Turkey, he continued the assertion of the “success” of the war, denying a possible “deadly” path of events.

There is no chance they have nuclear weapons. We already have nuclear material, because it is buried too deeply underground. No one will be able to obtain it, except us.

– Donald Trump

The president also noted that the United States allegedly controls access to materials through monitoring and cameras, which helps prevent their use.

The content of the statements raises questions about the true grounds for the war and whether the justifications have been borne out. Although the administration cites several goals, the changes in the president’s wording indicate instability in positions.

Consequences and the Future of the Conflict

The economic and human costs of the war remain significant for the United States and the global economy. In response, Iran demonstrates influence on the region’s key maritime artery – the Strait of Hormuz – creating serious risks for regional and global security.

Although Trump puts forward new narratives, questions about real achievements and long-term denuclearization remain open. Exiting the conflict could bring fewer-than-expected benefits and heighten economic risks if there is no clear plan and support from the international community.

In the future, further steps will depend on the transparency of the explanations for decisions and on what agreements can ensure stability in the region and on the world stage.