US President Donald Trump on 9 June claimed that Iran is willing to abandon its nuclear weapons programme and conclude a formal agreement with Washington, asserting that American military operations had severely degraded Tehran's defence capabilities. Trump made the remarks during a virtual tele-rally held in support of South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham ahead of Tuesday's Republican primary.

What Trump Said About Iran Negotiations

'We're negotiating now and they wanna make a very good deal. They're willing to give us everything. They're willing to give us no nuclear weapon,' Trump said. He added: 'Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and it's as simple as that.'

Trump projected confidence about the trajectory of talks, predicting a formal declaration of victory within a fortnight. 'I think we are winning that battle, but you're really gonna win it over the next two weeks when we declare total victory,' he said. 'It'll be a total victory. It'll happen very soon and oil prices will come tumbling down.'

Claims of Military Damage to Iran

Trump claimed US military action had inflicted sweeping damage on Iran's armed forces, including its naval fleet. 'We've decimated their military. We've decimated their, everything there is to decimate, including their leadership,' he said. 'Their navy is totally gone. They had 159 ships. Every ship is underwater right now.'

These claims could not be independently verified. No official US military statement corroborating the extent of the damage described by Trump was immediately available. Analysts and independent monitors have not confirmed the scale of losses he outlined.

Context: Graham Endorsement and Iran Policy

The Iran remarks came as Trump stumped for Graham, a close political ally and one of the Senate's most prominent voices for a hardline posture toward Tehran. 'Lindsey has been fighting with me all the way, all the way for that,' Trump said. 'We've been a very tough team.'

Trump gave Graham his 'complete and total endorsement' and urged South Carolina Republicans to back him in Tuesday's primary. He also endorsed South Carolina Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette, describing her as 'an America first patriot' and predicting she would become a successful governor.

Broader Implications for the Middle East

The remarks arrive against the backdrop of intensified US engagement across the Middle East, with ongoing diplomatic and military activity raising the stakes for any potential Iran nuclear agreement. Trump's suggestion that oil prices would fall following a 'total victory' signals that the administration views resolution of the Iran standoff as having direct economic consequences for global energy markets.

This comes amid longstanding international efforts — including past frameworks such as the 2015 JCPOA — to constrain Iran's nuclear activities, negotiations that have repeatedly stalled over verification and sanctions relief. Whether the current round of talks produces a binding agreement remains to be seen, with the next two weeks, according to Trump, set to be decisive.