Trump Says Retrieving ‘Nuclear Dust’ From Iran Will Be ‘Long And Difficult’ Process

BreakingBusinessTrump Says Retrieving ‘Nuclear Dust’ From Iran Will Be ‘Long And Difficult’ ProcessBySiladitya Ray,Forbes Staff. Siladitya Ray is a New Delhi-based Forbes news team reporter.Follow AuthorApr 21, 2026, 02:03am EDTApr 21, 2026, 02:03am EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.ToplinePresident Donald Trump said the process of retrieving enriched uranium from Iran will be a difficult process, claiming this was because of last year’s airstrikes on the country’s nuclear facilities, as the fate of the second round of peace talks between both countries remained uncertain, as the ceasefire between the two sides is set to expire on Wednesday.President Donald Trump said he expects Iran to return to the negotiating table.Associated PressKey FactsIn a post on Truth Social shortly before midnight, Trump said Operation Midnight Hammer had resulted in the “complete and total obliteration” of Iran’s “Nuclear Dust sites,” a reference to the U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s underground nuclear facilities.The president said that because of this, the “digging it out” will be a “long and difficult process.”Trump also attacked CNN and other media outlets in his post, saying they “fail to give our great aviators the credit they deserve,” although it's unclear what piece of coverage he was referring to.The president has insisted that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and even suggested that a peace deal will involve the removal of Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium from the country—something Tehran has vehemently pushed back against.Before his Truth Social post, Trump appeared on the conservative talk radio program John Fredericks Show and said Iran is going to have to negotiate and if they don’t, they will “see problems like they've never seen before.”Trump said he hoped they’ll agree to a “fair deal” and build their country back up, but reiterated “they will not have a nuclear weapon.” if...