Iran must give up nuclear program or face ‘consequences,’ Waltz says
The Trump administration is ramping up pressure on Iran to completely abandon its nuclear program or face severe consequences, according to National Security Advisor Mike Waltz. In an appearance on CBS’ “Face the Nation,” Waltz emphasized the need for Iran to fully dismantle its pursuit of nuclear weapons.
“This isn’t a situation where we’re looking for a tit-for-tat exchange like we saw in the past. This is about Iran giving up its entire nuclear program or facing the music,” Waltz stated. He did not elaborate on what specific repercussions Iran could encounter but noted that President Donald Trump is keeping all options on the table, including diplomatic solutions.
Waltz underscored the importance of Iran renouncing its nuclear ambitions in a transparent manner visible to the global community. He warned that if Iran were to acquire nuclear weapons, it could trigger a dangerous arms race in the Middle East, significantly jeopardizing national security interests.
The relationship between Tehran and Washington has been strained, especially following provocative actions by Iran’s proxies, Hamas and Hezbollah, against Israel. Iran has directly engaged in hostilities with Israel on multiple occasions, escalating tensions in the region.
President Trump has made it clear that military action is a possibility if Iran fails to engage in negotiations regarding its nuclear program. However, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has expressed reluctance to engage in talks with what he perceives as a hostile government. While Iranian diplomats initially hinted at the possibility of dialogue, they have since adopted a more rigid stance in alignment with Khamenei’s position.
The original nuclear deal, brokered in 2015 under the Obama administration, restricted Iran’s uranium enrichment levels to 3.67% and capped its uranium stockpile at 661 pounds. However, recent reports from the International Atomic Energy Agency indicate that Iran has amassed a significantly larger stockpile of enriched uranium, potentially reaching up to 60% purity.
U.S. intelligence agencies have not detected any active weapons program in Iran but acknowledge that the country has taken steps that could facilitate the development of nuclear weapons in the future.
In conclusion, the Trump administration is intensifying pressure on Iran to abandon its nuclear aspirations completely. The standoff between the two nations underscores the volatile nature of the situation and the potential for significant repercussions if diplomatic solutions are not pursued.
