President Donald Trump stated in recent Fox News interviews that the U.S. war against Iran continues primarily for public relations purposes and personal reassurance, even as enriched uranium remains buried under rubble from last June's strikes.
In a Friday interview on Fox News with host Bret Baier, Trump described the June bomber raid on three Iranian nuclear sites. He said the mountain collapsed on the material, calling it nuclear dust buried under heavy granite rubble. When asked why retrieval was not necessary, Trump replied that it was good enough but added it was not good enough public-relations-wise. He also noted nine cameras monitoring the sites around the clock and said he would feel better if the uranium were removed entirely. In a separate Thursday interview, Trump reiterated constant surveillance of the locations. He indicated he might resume bombing if Iran refused a peace deal requiring it to give up the uranium. Trump has maintained that the war prevents Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, despite acknowledging the material is inaccessible. He stated he does not consider Americans' financial situation when deciding on the conflict.