Escalation of US officials’ threats against Iran
At the same time, Washington, accusing Tehran of supporting Houthi attacks, launched a large-scale strike on Yemen. Iran, emphasizing its right to uranium enrichment and rejecting foreign pressure, warned that it would not leave threats unanswered.
In an interview with The Washington Post, Hughes said:
"The President of the United States has clearly stated in his letter to Iran that there are two ways to deal with it: military action or an agreement. We hope the Iran Regime puts its people and best interests ahead of terror."
When asked what conditions could trigger US military intervention in Iran, Hughes responded via email:
"The Iranian regime must demonstrate that it has dismantled its uranium enrichment and nuclear weapons program."
This marks the first time an official from the Trump administration has explicitly emphasized the necessity of dismantling Iran’s uranium enrichment program.
On Sunday, Michael Waltz, White House National Security Advisor, stated on ABC’s This Week regarding Iran:
"All options are on the table. If Iran doesn't 'hand over...the missiles, the weaponization, the enrichment, it may face a series of other consequences."
Waltz also noted that the recent US military strike on the Houthis in Yemen was distinct both in scale and in directly blaming Iran. He stated:
"It is Iran that has repeatedly funded, resourced, trained and helped the Houthis target not only US warships, but global commerce, and has helped the Houthis shut down two of the world’s most strategic sea lanes."
Waltz’s remarks came after the US launched a major strike on Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen on Saturday.
Trump also addressed the situation in a social media post, warning:
"If Tehran does not immediately cease its support for them [the Houthis], the US will hold you fully accountable, and we will not be gentle in our response."
The Washington Post reported that Iran responded swiftly. Major General Hossein Salami, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), stated:
"If threatened, Iran will deliver an appropriate and crushing response."
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, also posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday:
"The US government has no right to dictate Iran’s foreign policy. That era ended in 1979."
The Washington Post added that the Trump administration’s new demands appear to go beyond the terms of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which permits low-level uranium enrichment for civilian purposes.
Currently, Iran is enriching uranium at 60%, a level exceeding JCPOA limits. Tehran argues that since other JCPOA signatories—particularly European nations—have failed to meet their commitments, Iran has also moved away from its nuclear restrictions. Under the JCPOA, Iran is only permitted to enrich uranium up to 67.3%.
Western countries claim that Iran’s substantial stockpile of highly enriched uranium, along with its 60% enrichment level, brings Tehran closer to weapons-grade enrichment (90%). They also note that Iran is the only country in the world conducting such high-level enrichment without possessing a nuclear weapon.
Previously, US President Donald Trump, while calling for negotiations with Iran, stated that his sole objective was to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Germany’s Foreign Ministry also commented, stating that European nations will continue dialogue and engagement with Iran, emphasizing:
"Our goal remains to pursue a diplomatic resolution to Iran’s nuclear program."
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