Trump falsely claims 2015 Iran nuclear deal was 'a road to a nuclear weapon' and Iran would have one if he hadn't withdrawn

At a White House press conference, President Trump claimed that the 2015 Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA) was 'a road to a nuclear weapon' and that Iran 'would be sitting with a massive nuclear weapon three years ago' if he hadn't withdrawn the U.S. from the deal in 2018. Multiple experts, including Daryl G. Kimball of the Arms Control Association, disputed these claims, stating that the agreement never allowed Iran to legitimately possess nuclear weapons and imposed strict limits on enrichment capabilities with robust verification mechanisms. FactCheck.org reported that after the U.S. withdrawal, Iran actually accelerated its uranium enrichment program—enriching to 60% purity compared to the 3.67% limit under the JCPOA—directly contradicting Trump's narrative that withdrawal prevented nuclear development. The claims misrepresent both the nature of the agreement and the consequences of withdrawing from it.

“The 2015 Iran nuclear deal was a road to a nuclear weapon and they would be sitting with a massive nuclear weapon three years ago if I hadn't withdrawn the U.S. from the deal.” — Statement made during White House press conference on March 12, 2026 Quote verified against source