Trump Says 20-Year Iran Nuclear Freeze May Be Enough

2026-05-16

Speaking on the Plane After the Meeting

U.S. President Donald Trump said on the 15th, in talks aimed at ending the fighting with Iran, that if Iran guarantees compliance with a halt to its nuclear program, “20 years is enough.” As a condition, he called for the complete removal of highly enriched uranium inside Iran.

He spoke to reporters aboard the flight back to the United States after meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The length of any nuclear freeze, including uranium enrichment, is one of the negotiating items, and U.S. media had reported a 20-year freeze proposal after direct talks between the United States and Iran in April. At the time, Trump rejected the idea of setting a 20-year limit, saying, “There is no number of years. It is indefinite.”

Talks Remain Difficult

The United States wants to reach an agreement quickly, but Iran has shown little willingness to compromise, and the talks remain difficult. The U.S. is seeking to ensure that Iran cannot possess nuclear weapons over the long term, while Iran places importance on maintaining uranium enrichment technology, so the standoff continues.

Trump’s latest remarks suggest a shift from his previous hardline stance. However, Iran is expected to seek a shorter freeze period, and this could remain a major focus of the negotiations. Trump is mindful of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal led by the Obama administration and is aiming for an agreement that exceeds the 15-year freeze period set then.

Denied Asking Xi for Help

Regarding the resumption of transit through the Strait of Hormuz, he said he had not asked Xi to pressure Iran. “I’m not asking for any favors, because if you ask for a favor, you have to return one,” he said.

He added, “He (Xi) spoke very strongly, saying, ‘Iran must not have nuclear weapons,’” and said, “I think we are almost completely aligned, except that they are buyers of Iranian crude oil and we are not.”

On whether sanctions on Chinese companies buying Iranian crude oil would be lifted, he said, “We discussed that. I intend to make a decision in the coming days,” acknowledging that the matter had been discussed.

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