Trump Says Iran Agreement Bars Nuclear Weapons

Negotiators plan to release full text of the agreement soon.

President Donald Trump in Washington, on May 22, 2026. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

President Donald Trump revealed Monday in a Truth Social post that Iran has agreed to stop its nuclear weapons program, championing what he portrayed as a significant step toward peace in the Middle East after months of tense negotiations and military conflict.

“Iran has agreed to never have a Nuclear Weapon!” Trump posted, noting that rumors of a $300 million payment being made to the Iranians were false.

“Also, the story that the U.S. is paying Iran 300 million Dollars is Fake News, put out by the Dumocrats!!!”

Vice President JD Vance said the full U.S.–Iran agreement text, which is a memorandum of understanding, could be released as soon as the end of the week. He also clarified that Arab nations were standing by with $300 million in reconstruction funds for Iran, but that no money would be available until Iran honors the agreement.

Trump has repeatedly emphasized preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear capabilities in negotiations.

“This whole thing is really about no nuclear—they cannot have a nuclear weapon,” the U.S. president told Fox News in April.

U.S. and Iranian negotiators formulated drafts addressing the enriched uranium stockpiles, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and broader sanctions relief for Iran in exchange for verifiable commitments.

Trump has repeatedly outlined options for handling Iran’s nuclear material, including turning it over to the United States or destroying it in place.

The discussions persisted amid direct confrontation, including U.S. military actions designed to curtail Iran’s military and nuclear infrastructure.

Trump has maintained that any final agreement must eliminate the possibility of Iran obtaining a nuclear bomb. In one Truth Social post from May, Trump underscored that the blockade would remain in place until his desired terms were met.

“The Blockade will remain in full force and effect until an agreement is reached, certified, and signed,” Trump said in the post at the time. “Both sides must take their time and get it right. There can be no mistakes! Our relationship with Iran is becoming a much more professional and productive one. They must understand, however, that they cannot develop or procure a Nuclear Weapon or Bomb.”

Since the start of the conflict in February, Trump has sent letters to the Iranian leadership and released public outlines for new deals.

“I’ve written them a letter saying, ‘I hope you’re going to negotiate because if we have to go in militarily, it’s going to be a terrible thing,’” he said in March.

“I hope [they’re] going to negotiate because it’s going to be a lot better for Iran, and I think they want to get that letter. The other alternative is we have to do something because you can’t let them have a nuclear weapon.”

Trump’s focus on this issue dates back to the 2018 withdrawal from the prior nuclear accord, followed by renewed efforts in his second term following the U.N. nuclear watchdog’s finding that Iran was in breach of its obligations under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.

Handling of the enriched uranium has become a sticking point, with Trump rejecting third-party transfers of the material in favor of direct U.S. or supervised destruction.