U.S. President Donald Trump has said the recovery of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile will be a “long and difficult process,” following earlier U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
Speaking on Monday, Trump reiterated his position that the June 2025 military operation—dubbed “Operation Midnight Hammer”—had severely damaged Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. He claimed the strikes resulted in what he described as the “complete and total obliteration” of key sites, referring to the remaining uranium as “dust.”
“Operation Midnight Hammer was a complete and total obliteration of the nuclear sites in Iran,” Trump said. “Therefore, digging it out will be a long and difficult process.”
The remarks come ahead of potential high-level diplomatic talks involving the United States and Iran, which are expected to take place in Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital.
Trump had earlier announced that U.S. representatives would travel to Islamabad to engage in negotiations aimed at easing tensions between Washington and Tehran. However, Iranian authorities have yet to formally confirm their participation in the proposed talks.
Sources indicate that Tehran has set preconditions for engagement, including the lifting of U.S. restrictions affecting the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil transit route. The demand underscores ongoing friction between the two countries, particularly over economic sanctions and regional security concerns.
Pakistan has recently emerged as a neutral venue for dialogue between the long-time adversaries. Earlier this month, Islamabad hosted the first direct high-level engagement between U.S. and Iranian officials on April 11–12. The meeting marked a rare diplomatic contact between the two nations, which have not maintained formal diplomatic relations since the Iranian Revolution.
Despite the significance of that meeting, discussions ended without a major breakthrough, with both sides maintaining firm positions on key issues, including nuclear activity, sanctions, and regional influence.
Analysts say Trump’s latest comments may complicate ongoing diplomatic efforts, as they reinforce the administration’s hardline narrative regarding the effectiveness of the 2025 strikes and Iran’s current nuclear capabilities.
The situation remains fluid, with global attention focused on whether the planned Islamabad talks will proceed and whether they can produce meaningful progress in reducing tensions between the two countries.
