Trump also said he would prefer not to destroy Iran but might be forced to do so, according to reporting by the Times of India and La Repubblica. The remarks represent a severe warning, but the supplied reports do not establish what specific action he was referring to.
The Times of India reported that Trump made the comments during a press conference in the Oval Office. The newspaper also reported that he linked the warning to Iran’s nuclear ambitions and said Iran must seek US approval for developments in its nuclear program; the supplied material does not include an official transcript or independent confirmation of those details.
Al Jazeera, the Times of India and La Repubblica all reported the core warning and Trump’s indication that more would be known soon. The supplied evidence does not establish whether any subsequent US military or diplomatic action occurred.