Leaders stress Iran memorandum and regional stability; president defends past actions

Prime Minister Modi, as addressed during the press exchange, commended Mr. President for "leadership on the progress that has been made in the efforts to restore peace in West Asia," and urged that the safety of Indian seafarers and freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz be prioritized during implementation of any agreement.

Mr. President characterized the document discussed as "a memorandum of understanding, but it's a very strong one," and said the goal was "an Iran without a nuclear weapon." He linked recent shifts to prior actions, saying the removal of Qasem Soleimani "was a big event" and framing that moment as the start of change in the region.

On the previous nuclear agreement, Mr. President criticized the JCPOA, calling it "one of the dumbest deals I've ever seen" and said he terminated it to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. He described the U.S. military and naval measures as effective in restricting Iran's capabilities.

Reporters raised follow-up questions about whether the momentum would lead to a final signature; Mr. President said deals can be unpredictable but expressed optimism that parties "want to sign." The exchange did not include a formal announcement of a final, signed agreement.