“If Iran Acts Peacefully, Washington Will Lift Sanctions” — President Donald Trump

“If Iran Acts Peacefully, Washington Will Lift Sanctions” — President Donald Trump
[Washington, June 30, 2025]

U.S. President Donald Trump has stated that if Iran behaves peacefully and agrees to cooperate with Washington, the United States may lift the sanctions currently imposed on the country.

In an interview aired Sunday on Fox News, Trump said:
“If they can be peaceful and join us, and cause no more harm, then I could lift the sanctions.”

He further added,
“Sometimes you can get more with honey than with vinegar.”

According to Trump, lifting the sanctions could bring about a “major shift” for Iran. However, he also reminded viewers that due to Iran’s aggressive posture in the past, he had previously canceled plans to ease certain sanctions.

Trump Rejects Claims That Iran Moved Its Enriched Uranium

When questioned about claims that Iran had removed its enriched uranium prior to the recent U.S.-Israel joint airstrikes, Trump firmly denied the allegation.

He said:
“Moving that kind of material is hard and dangerous — it’s heavy and complex.”
“They didn’t move anything. They never thought we would actually go through with it.”

Trump claimed that the United States launched its strikes on Iran with very little notice, leaving Tehran with no time to prepare or relocate sensitive materials.

He continued,
“Iran is now exhausted and devastated. They’ve been forced to pause their nuclear activities — for now.”

New Members May Join the Abraham Accords

In the same interview, President Trump also indicated that new countries have expressed interest in joining the Abraham Accords — the diplomatic agreement normalizing relations between Israel and several Arab nations. However, he did not name any specific countries.

Trump said:
“We already have some great countries on board, and I think more will come. Because Iran was the main problem.”

A Strategy of Pressure and Incentive

Analysts describe the Trump administration’s diplomatic stance as a reflection of the classic “carrot and stick” approach — combining military pressure and sanctions with promises of rewards and diplomatic opportunities in exchange for peaceful behavior.

Although a direct pathway to negotiations with Tehran remains uncertain, Trump’s remarks suggest that a future agreement remains on the table — if Iran halts its nuclear program and reduces regional tensions.