The United States is keeping “all options on the table” to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz said on Sunday.
Speaking to Fox News Sunday, Waltz emphasized that President Donald Trump is “deadly serious when he says Iran can never have a nuke—certainly not on his watch.” When asked about potential US military action against Iran’s nuclear program, Waltz declined to provide specifics but stressed that Tehran is “an irrational actor that we cannot allow to have [its] finger on the button.”
Waltz stated that Washington remains open to negotiations—if Iran is willing to dismantle its nuclear program completely. However, he cautioned against past diplomatic failures, saying, “They cannot play games as we’ve seen them do in prior negotiations.”
Regardless of diplomatic efforts, he reiterated, “Iran can never have a nuclear weapon. That wouldn’t just be an existential threat to Israel; it would be existential for the entire world because it could trigger a nuclear arms race in the Middle East.”
SAUDI MEDIATION EFFORTS
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia is reportedly seeking to mediate between Washington and Tehran, CNN reported. While it is unclear whether Riyadh has made a formal proposal, the report suggests the kingdom aims to improve relations with its longtime adversary.
Saudi officials are concerned that, with Iran’s regional proxies weakened—particularly Hezbollah, which has suffered military setbacks against Israel—Tehran may accelerate its pursuit of nuclear weapons. The report also noted that, with its proxy deterrence eroded, Iran fears an Israeli strike on its nuclear facilities.
Despite these concerns, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei dismissed the idea of negotiations with the US last week, calling such talks “unwise.”
Both the State Department and the Saudi Foreign Ministry declined to comment to CNN.
RUBIO VISITS ISRAEL, REAFFIRMS US-ISRAEL ALLIANCE
On Sunday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio made his first official visit to Israel, where he met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
At a joint press conference, Netanyahu underscored the shared US-Israeli commitment to countering Iran. “None of the issues we discussed are more important than Iran,” he said. “Israel and America stand shoulder to shoulder in countering the threat of Iran. We agreed that the ayatollahs must never obtain nuclear weapons, and we also agreed that Iran’s regional aggression must be rolled back.
“Over the past 16 months, Israel has dealt a mighty blow to Iran’s terror axis. Under President Trump’s strong leadership, and with your unwavering support, I have no doubt that we can and will finish the job.”
Rubio echoed Netanyahu’s sentiments. “There can never be a nuclear Iran—one that could hold itself immune from pressure or action. That can never happen. The president has been clear about that.”
He further called Iran “the single greatest source of instability in the region,” stating, “Behind every terrorist group, every act of violence, and every destabilizing effort threatening millions in this region, is Iran.”
