Trump downplays China-Russia-Iran nuclear talks, says they may discuss 'de-escalation'

President Donald Trump, speaking from the Oval Office Thursday, downplayed an upcoming atomic acme successful Beijing betwixt Iran, Russia, and China, 3 main adversaries of the U.S.

The discussions, archetypal confirmed by the Chinese overseas ministry Thursday and which travel conscionable days aft Iran rebuffed Trump’s propulsion to prosecute successful atomic negotiations, volition coincide with a United Nations Security Council gathering regarding Tehran’s enlargement of near-weapons-grade uranium. 

Trump suggested possibly Beijing, Moscow and Tehran volition beryllium having their ain discussions connected "de-escalation."

"Well, possibly they're going to speech astir non-nuclear problems. Maybe they're going to beryllium talking astir the de-escalation of atomic weapons," Trump told reporters.

TRUMP 'HOPES' PUTIN AGREES TO CEASEFIRE AS MOSCOW SIGNALS NO TRUCE YET

Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iranian Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un (Getty Images)

Trump said helium and Russian President Vladimir Putin erstwhile engaged successful "strong" talks astir atomic weapons and said helium believes, had helium won the 2016 election, further Russian denuclearization would person been connected the table. 

"I deliberation I would person made a woody with Putin connected de-escalation, denuclearization," Trump said. "But we would person de-escalated atomic weapons due to the fact that the powerfulness of atomic weapons is truthful large and truthful devastating."

The president besides claimed that China would "catch america successful 5 years" due to the fact that of its accelerated improvement of its atomic stockpiles, though this would beryllium acold sooner than different experts person warned. 

The Pentagon successful 2024 assessed that China is believed to person 600 atomic weapons, up from the debased 200s successful 2020. But, successful a study Wednesday, experts with the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists said claims that China volition beryllium a "peer" oregon "near peer" with the U.S. successful the adjacent aboriginal were a "gross exaggeration." 

POLAND CALLS ON US TO PLACE NUKES WITHIN ITS BORDERS AMID RUSSIA THREAT

President Donald Trump speaks during a gathering with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte successful the Oval Office of the White House March 13, 2025, successful Washington, D.C. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

"There is nary grounds that China’s ongoing atomic enlargement volition effect successful parity with the U.S. arsenal," the study said. "Even the worst-case 2023 projection of 1,500 warheads by 2035 amounts to little than fractional of the existent U.S. atomic stockpile."

Russia is believed to person 5,580 atomic weapons, and the U.S. is reported to person 5,225, portion China comes successful astatine a distant third, according to the Arms Control Association. 

Concerns implicit North Korea’s mostly unchecked atomic programme person besides continued to equine successful caller years, peculiarly aft Pyongyang formed person ties with Moscow aft Russia’s penetration of Ukraine. 

"It would beryllium a large accomplishment if we could bring down the number," Trump said. 

"You don’t request them to that extent," helium added, noting the immense demolition adjacent 1 atomic limb could inflict. 

North Korea is estimated to person 50 atomic weapons, which Trump noted is "a lot."

North Korean person Kim Jong Un, center, supervises artillery firing drills successful North Korea March 7, 2024.  (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP, File)

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But helium besides pointed to the affirmative narration helium had with Kim Jong Un during his archetypal presidency and suggested that narration could widen during his 2nd term. Trump appeared to suggest determination could beryllium country for atomic negotiations. 

"I person a large narration with Kim Jong Un, and we’ll spot what happens," Trump told reporters. "But surely he’s a atomic power."