The Trump administration is issuing an ultimatum to Iran, calling for a complete dismantlement of its nuclear program or facing severe consequences.
Speaking on CBS News’ Face The Nation, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz made it clear that the administration is not interested in half-measures when it comes to Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
“This isn’t some kind of, you know, kind of tit-for-tat that we had under the Obama administration or Biden,” Waltz explained. “This is the full program. Give it up or there will be consequences.”
Waltz’s comments are a testament to the administration’s insistence that Iran must abandon its nuclear program entirely and transparently. He stated that Iran’s surrender of its nuclear ambitions must be verifiable by the entire world.
“If [Iran] had nuclear weapons, the entire Middle East would explode in an arms race,” Waltz warned. “That is completely unacceptable to our national security.”
President Trump, Waltz said, is keeping “all options on the table,” including diplomacy and military action, to prevent Iran from advancing its nuclear capabilities.
Tensions between the United States and Iran have been steadily rising, especially following attacks launched by Iran’s proxies, Hamas and Hezbollah, against Israel in recent years.
Waltz noted that Iran has been in its weakest position from a national security standpoint since 1979, making this a critical moment for the regime to make a choice.
The original 2015 nuclear deal, negotiated under the Obama administration, allowed Iran to enrich uranium only up to 3.67% purity.
However, the International Atomic Energy Agency’s latest report revealed that Iran’s uranium stockpile has skyrocketed to over 18,000 pounds, with some of it enriched to 60% purity — far beyond the agreed-upon limit.
Despite U.S. intelligence agencies assessing that Iran has not officially begun a weapons program, concerns are mounting over activities that position the regime to potentially produce a nuclear device if it decides to do so.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has expressed no interest in negotiating with what he calls a “bullying government.” However, previous remarks from Iranian diplomats hinted at a willingness to negotiate, only to be later retracted in alignment with Khamenei’s tougher stance.
The Trump administration’s message remains unambiguous: Iran must abandon its nuclear program entirely or face the consequences. As Waltz reiterated, “Iran has to give up its program in a way that the entire world can see. As President Trump has said, this is coming to a head. All options are on the table.”