US says Iran must give up its nuclear program or else
The Trump administration wants Iran to abandon all aspects of its nuclear program, the US national security advisor said on Sunday, warning that all options are on the table should Tehran refuse.
The Trump administration wants Iran to abandon all aspects of its nuclear program, the US national security advisor said on Sunday, warning that all options are on the table should Tehran refuse.
"Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. All options are on the table to ensure it does not have one," Michael Waltz told ABC News on Sunday.
"And that’s all aspects of Iran's program. That’s the missiles, the weaponization, the enrichment. They can either hand it over and give it up in a way that is verifiable, or they can face a whole series of other consequences," he warned.
In 2015, Iran signed a nuclear deal with the United States and other world powers that imposed restrictions on its uranium enrichment capacity but effectively allowed it to maintain its nuclear program. It also did not directly address Tehran's ballistic missile program, focusing instead on nuclear-related issues.
While Iran is now signaling a willingness to accept similar restrictions on its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief, the Trump administration appears determined to put an end to Tehran's atomic ambitions.
The United Nations' nuclear watchdog warned on Saturday that the Islamic Republic is very close to developing a nuclear weapon.
"Iran has an extremely ambitious and extensive nuclear program, under which it is enriching uranium to nearly weapons-grade levels," Rafael Grossi, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said.
Trump's national security advisor said on Sunday that "we cannot have a world with the ayatollahs with their finger on the nuclear button. And President Trump is determined (to prevent that), one way or another."
"Iran has been offered a way out of this to make sure that we don’t have a world that can be threatened by a radical regime," Waltz said, referring to Trump's direct letter to Iran's Supreme Leader.
Trump announced the overture at the same time he warned Iran to agree to a new nuclear deal or face military action.
While Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has publicly ruled out talks, Iran’s foreign minister on Thursday signaled Tehran's willingness to engage in indirect negotiations with the United States through Oman.
On Sunday, Araghchi travelled to Muscat "to review bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest and concern."
"Our commitment is to diplomacy in defense of peace and stability, and I am always delighted to engage with my Omani counterpart in pursuit of these aims," he said, without explaining whether the issue of Omani mediation between Tehran and Washington had been discussed.
US may target Iranian assets in Red Sea
Araghchi's trip to Oman came hours after the US military started a series of large-scale airstrikes against Yemen's Houthis in what US officials described as a warning signal to their sponsors in Tehran.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Sunday the ongoing US airstrikes against Houthis serve as a warning to Iran to stop backing the group.
Washington would conduct "unrelenting" strikes against Yemen's Houthis until the Tehran-backed group ceases their military actions targeting US assets and global shipping, Hegseth told Fox News.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio also told CBS News that there was "no way" Yemen's Houthis would have the ability to attack global shipping without support from Iran.
In his Sunday interview with Fox News, Michael Waltz said the Trump administration "will hold not only the Houthis accountable, but we’re going to hold Iran, their backers, accountable as well.”
"And if that means they’re targeting ships that they have put in to – to help their Iranian trainers, IRGC and others, that intelligence, other things that they have put in to help the Houthis attack the global economy, those – those targets will be on the table too," he warned.
Iran allegedly operates reconnaissance ships in the Red Sea, including the commercial cargo ships Behshad and Saviz, which Washington says coordinate with the Houthis.
Despite scrutinizing their operations, neither the US nor Israeli militaries have targeted the ships.
