IRAN WAR: Trump open to 20-year suspension of Iran’s nuclear program

The conflict in the Middle East has entered its 76th day.

Published May 15, 2026  •  2 minute read

U.S. President Donald Trump (right) and Chinese President Xi Jinping arrive for a visit at the Temple of Heaven on May 14, 2026 in Beijing, China. Photo by Alex Wong /Getty Images

U.S. President Donald Trump said he would be alright with Iran suspending its nuclear weapons program for 20 years if their commitment is “real.”

Article content

Trump said he and Chinese President Xi ​Jinping agreed that Iran is not allowed to have a nuclear weapon and must reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Article content

Article content

After a several-day U.S.-China summit, Trump’s comments gave little indication whether China, the main purchaser of Iranian oil, might use its influence with Iran to end the war it said should have never started.

This, as the conflict in the Middle East has entered its 76th day.

Here is the latest on the Iran war on Friday:

Trump OK with 20-year suspension of Iranian nuclear program

The American president said he was OK with Iran suspending its nuclear weapons program for two decades as long as the country’s commitment to it is “real.”

Speaking to reporters on Air Force One after his trip to China, Trump said the U.S. may have to return to do “a little clean-up work in Iran” without further elaboration, Al Jazeera reported.

“We’ve wiped out their armed forces essentially. We may have to do a little clean-up work because we had a little month-long ceasefire, I guess you call it,” Trump said, adding the U.S. mainly agreed to a ceasefire due to requests from other countries, specifically Pakistan.

Article content

Article content

“I wouldn’t have really been in favour of it, but we did it as a favour to Pakistan,” said Trump.

Attack on Lebanon kills at least six: Reports

The National News Agency in Lebanon reported Israel conducted a double-tap attack on a car in Nabetieh, which killed two men, who were there to deliver food aid.

The state media noted the attack also caused damage to three ambulances, destroying one of them. Their crews were unharmed, per Al Jazeera.

The report also stated at least four were killed after an Israeli warplane attacked a house in Harouf overnight.

Iran, China are aligned says Trump

Trump said his patience with Iran was running out and agreed with Chinese President Xi Jinping that Tehran cannot have nuclear weapon and must reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

The president’s comments gave few indication whether China, the main buyer of Iranian oil, might use its influence with Tehran to end the conflict the country said it should never have started, Reuters reported.

Article content

“We’ve settled a lot of different problems that other people wouldn’t have been able to settle,” Trump said on Friday after meeting Xi in Beijing.

The Chinese president has not commented on his talks with Trump about Iran, although the country’s foreign ministry issued a statement that outlined Beijing’s frustration with the Middle East conflict.

“This conflict, which should never have happened, has no reason to continue,” the ministry said.

Article content