President Donald Trump indicated that a negotiated settlement with Iran may be within reach but made clear that he is unwilling to accept a limited agreement, instead pushing for a comprehensive deal that fully eliminates Iran’s nuclear capabilities. His remarks on April 16, 2026, reinforced a consistent stance that partial measures would not meet U.S. objectives.
Asked whether he would consider a smaller, incremental agreement, Trump acknowledged the possibility but rejected it outright. “Reporter – Is it going to have to be a big deal all at once or would you accept a little deal to start? President Trump: Well, I have a little deal. I Could Make a Little Deal, but I Don’t Want to Do That, I want to get it done and get back to keep going with low prices. You know, our pricing is doing great. As soon as the war is over, we’re going to be lower than we were 2 or 3 years ago.”
.@POTUS: "I could make a little deal, but I don't want to do that. I want to get it done… We had to do something. We had to make sure that Iran never gets a nuclear weapon." pic.twitter.com/pnR1gZdn1z
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 16, 2026
“So, I want to get back to that. I want we had to do something. We had to make sure that Iran never gets a nuclear weapon. And we’re at that. They’ve agreed to that. They totally agreed to that. They’ve agreed to almost everything. So, maybe if they can get to the table, there’s a difference. They agree. They got to get to the table with a pen we’ll have that over with and then we can focus on our great economy. And also, you know, I inherited the highest prices in the history of our country. The worst inflation in the history of our country. I’ll get it down to a very low number. We had it to a very low number and it’s still low. But the most important thing right now is to make sure Iran can never have a nuclear.”
The comments align with Trump’s earlier statements outlining uncompromising demands for complete nuclear disarmament. In previous remarks, he stressed that anything short of total compliance would be unacceptable, emphasizing that Iran, weakened by military strikes and leadership losses, lacks negotiating leverage.
.@POTUS: "They haven't left the bargaining table. I predict they come back, and they give us everything we want—and I told my people, I want everything. I don't want 90%, I don't want 95%. I told them, I want everything. They have no cards." pic.twitter.com/LeGu9z6weO
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 12, 2026
Trump also suggested that Iran has already shown signs of shifting its position, noting that its representatives are now more willing to engage than in earlier stages of the conflict. He indicated that while agreements in principle may exist, finalization depends on formal commitments at the negotiating table.
The president framed the potential deal as a turning point that would allow the administration to shift focus back to economic priorities. At the same time, he reiterated that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon remains the central objective, describing it as the most critical issue guiding ongoing negotiations.