Fact Check: President Donald Trump warned that Tehran needs to curb its nuclear program before it’s 'too late' during a statement made in October 2023.

Fact Check: "President Donald Trump warned that Tehran needs to curb its nuclear program before it’s 'too late' during a statement made in October 2023."

What We Know

The claim suggests that President Donald Trump made a specific warning to Iran regarding its nuclear program in October 2023. However, there are no credible sources or statements from that time period that support this assertion. The most relevant documents regarding U.S. policy on Iran's nuclear capabilities are the National Security Presidential Memorandum (NSPM-2) and various statements made by U.S. officials in 2025, which outline a consistent stance on Iran's nuclear threat but do not include any direct quotes or warnings from Trump in October 2023 (source-1, source-2).

Analysis

The absence of any documented statement from President Trump in October 2023 regarding Iran's nuclear program indicates that the claim is likely fabricated or misrepresented. The NSPM-2, issued in February 2025, emphasizes the U.S. policy of denying Iran a nuclear weapon and highlights the threats posed by Iran's nuclear activities, but it does not contain any warnings made by Trump in October 2023 (source-1). Furthermore, the U.S. Statement on the UN Security Council Meeting on Iran from March 2025 reiterates the ongoing concerns about Iran's nuclear program but does not reference any specific warnings from Trump in the claimed timeframe (source-2).

The reliability of the sources used in this analysis is high, as they come from official U.S. government publications. However, the claim itself lacks substantiation from any credible or verifiable source, leading to the conclusion that it is not based on factual statements made by Trump.

Conclusion

Verdict: False
The claim that President Donald Trump warned Tehran to curb its nuclear program before it’s "too late" in October 2023 is not supported by any credible evidence or documentation. The lack of any official statements from that period, combined with the existing records from 2025 that outline U.S. policy without referencing the specific warning, confirms that the claim is unfounded.

Sources

1. National Security Presidential Memorandum/NSPM-2
2. U.S. Statement on UN Security Council Meeting on Iran
3. Trump tells Reuters about Israel's actions
4. Trump struggles with Iran message
5. Israel strikes Iran, as Trump officials say no U.S. military
6. Trump urges evacuation of Tehran
7. Iran counterattacks, firing missiles at Israel
8. The Latest: Trump says all of Tehran should evacuate