Fact Check: "President Trump stated that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and called for the immediate evacuation of Tehran in a social media post on June 16, 2025."
What We Know
On June 16, 2025, President Donald Trump made a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, where he stated, “IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. I said it over and over again! Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!” (Washington Post, Reuters). This post was made in the context of escalating military tensions between Israel and Iran, which included Israeli airstrikes on Iranian military facilities (Washington Post, BBC). The situation prompted Israel to issue evacuation warnings for parts of Tehran, affecting hundreds of thousands of residents (Washington Post).
Analysis
The claim that President Trump stated Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and called for the immediate evacuation of Tehran is supported by multiple credible sources. His social media post has been reported by major news outlets, including Reuters and The Washington Post, confirming the exact wording of his statement. The context of the post is critical; it came amid heightened military conflict, where Israel was actively targeting Iranian military capabilities, which Trump cited as justification for his warnings.
The reliability of the sources reporting this event is high. Both The Washington Post and Reuters are established news organizations known for their journalistic standards. Additionally, the information aligns with reports from other outlets like BBC and Al Jazeera, which corroborate Trump's statements and the surrounding circumstances.
However, it is important to note that while Trump’s assertion about Iran's nuclear capabilities reflects a long-standing U.S. policy position, the claim that Iran is actively pursuing nuclear weapons is contested. Iran maintains that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, and various international assessments have indicated that Iran has not had a structured nuclear weapons program since 2003 (Washington Post). This discrepancy highlights the need for critical evaluation of the implications of Trump's statements.
Conclusion
Verdict: True
The claim that President Trump stated that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and called for the immediate evacuation of Tehran in a social media post on June 16, 2025, is accurate. The evidence from multiple credible sources confirms both the content of Trump's statement and the context in which it was made.
Sources
- Trump leaves G-7 early to deal with Israel and Iran conflict ... Washington Post
- Israel orders 300000 people in Tehran to evacuate while ... Washington Post
- Explosions heard in Tehran as Trump tells 'everyone' to ... BBC
- Trump says everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran Reuters
- Pentagon chief says Trump still aiming for deal with Iran Reuters
- Trump warns 'everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran' in ominous ... New York Post
- Trump Urges All of Tehran to Evacuate, Reiterates Iran Can't Go Nuclear ... Newsmax
- LIVE: Israel, Iran trade attacks; Trump urges Tehran ... Al Jazeera
