The Hague [Netherlands], June 26: US President Donald Trump claimed on Wednesday that American and Iranian officials are set to hold talks next week, potentially signaling a diplomatic opening after a fragile ceasefire. However, Iran has publicly denied any such discussions are scheduled and continues to reaffirm its commitment to its nuclear program, The Times of Israel reported.
Speaking at the NATO Heads of State and Government summit in The Hague, Trump stated, “We may sign an agreement, I don’t know. To me, I don’t think it’s that necessary. The way I look at it, they fought, the war is done.” He reiterated his stance that recent US strikes had “destroyed” Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
Despite Trump’s statements, Tehran has not confirmed any upcoming talks. In fact, a senior Iranian official questioned Washington’s credibility following the coordinated US-Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. The Iranian parliament is reportedly fast-tracking legislation to terminate cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Trump, describing the ceasefire as “going very well,” also claimed Iran would be unable to resume uranium enrichment. “We destroyed the nuclear,” he said. “It’s blown up, to Kingdom Come… We’re gonna meet with them actually.” He added that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had been tasked with drafting a potential agreement.
On June 13, Israel launched preemptive strikes targeting Iranian military leaders, nuclear scientists, and missile infrastructure. The US followed up on June 22 with its own strikes, hitting major sites including Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have repeatedly described the Fordow facility as “obliterated,” with Hegseth saying the site, buried under a mountain, was “devastated.”
Yet, questions persist about the actual impact of the strikes. US intelligence assessments reportedly suggest that Iran’s enrichment capability remains largely intact, and enriched uranium may have been relocated prior to the bombings.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pushed back on a Washington Post report suggesting Israel urged Trump to act. Netanyahu’s office posted on X (formerly Twitter), “The Washington Post story suggesting that Israel pushed President Trump into his bold decision to bomb Iranian nuclear sites is nonsense.” He thanked Trump for his “decisive leadership,” emphasizing that both nations acted based on shared intelligence.
It remains unclear whether any future negotiations will focus specifically on the nuclear issue or a broader regional peace framework, as hinted earlier by White House envoy Steve Witkoff.