Trump Says Iran’s Major Bridges Could Be Gone Within Two Hours Without a Deal

President Donald Trump said on July 28 that the US could destroy Iran’s major bridges within two hours and wipe out its power plants within a day if Tehran refuses to strike a deal. He also said the two sides have had productive talks.

In a phone interview with Fox News, Trump said Iran may deny it has discussed nuclear issues with him, but that has been the entirety of their talks. Iran will never obtain a nuclear weapon, he said, and Tehran knows it.

“We’ve had very good talks,” he added.

Trump said Iran knows he would attack if it does not agree to a deal. “The bridges would literally be gone in less than an hour,” he said. “Most bridges, the major bridges, would all be gone within two hours, and the power plants would be gone within a day.”

Even so, Trump said he would prefer to avoid such an outcome if possible. He said power plants are among the hardest facilities to build, while bridges take the longest to construct.

He said Iran’s seawater desalination plants would be spared because civilians would suffer.

Asked about reports that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would visit the White House and explain the situation at Mount Pickaxe in Iran, Trump said Netanyahu did not need to tell him about it. “Bibi says that because he wants me to stay involved,” Trump said. “Why does he have to talk to the whole world instead of just talking to me?”

Trump said he knows exactly what is happening at Mount Pickaxe and that it is not a major problem. He added that the US had eliminated Iran’s nuclear facilities and that Mount Pickaxe would also have to be removed if no deal is reached. Mount Pickaxe is suspected of being a new underground nuclear site in Iran.

Trump also said that, frankly, Israel would not exist today if he were not president of the United States.

Han Kyung-woo, Hankyung.com reporter, case@hankyung.com