At the January 2026 World Economic Forum, President Donald Trump asserted that the United States successfully prevented Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, stating, “[Iran] would have had a nuclear weapon long ago... and we hit them hard... They've got to stop with the nuclear.”

Trump credited the success to U.S. military action under Operation Midnight Hammer, which involved precise B-2 bomber strikes targeting Iranian nuclear facilities, including Natanz and Fordow. According to Trump, these strikes occurred amid the ongoing Iran-Israel war and focused on sites enriching uranium to 84% purity—just below the 90% threshold needed for a bomb, based on International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) data.

The operations were reportedly in response to Iran’s defiance of inspections and retaliatory actions against prior U.S. measures. By neutralizing these critical enrichment facilities, the administration claims to have significantly delayed Tehran’s nuclear weaponization timeline while avoiding a broader escalation of the conflict.

Trump’s remarks highlight his administration’s approach to deterrence: combining decisive military action with strategic messaging to prevent Iran from crossing nuclear thresholds. The statement underscores the ongoing tension in the region and the U.S. commitment to preventing nuclear proliferation, particularly in a volatile Middle East security environment.