While continuing to closely tie the recent US attacks on the Houthis in Yemen to Iran, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz confirmed that the Trump Administration is demanding “full dismantlement” of Iran’s nuclear program, including its capacity to enrich uranium for civilian use.
Waltz made the comments on CBS’ Face the Nation, and when asked what full dismantlement meant and to clarify the distinction between it and the verification deal the US had with Iran before President Trump pulled out of it in 2018, he made it clear this is far broader, covering everything, including enrichment, “weaponization,” and strategic missile programs.
Iran’s enrichment program, which is under IAEA monitoring, has no military component in the first place. Enrichment was purely for making fuel rods for the Bushehr nuclear power plant along Iran’s coast and for making somewhat higher enriched fuel for its medical isotope reactor. Iran has a long history of having a substantial nuclear medicine program, and supplied its own isotopes for that.
The long-abandoned nuclear deal was meant to give Iran a design to produce isotopes without 20% enriched uranium through a heavy-water reactor. Like most of the promises to Iran under the deal this was never honored, and Iran is left with the old research reactor. Higher levels of enrichment were also done to try to encourage new negotiations, though Iran promised the IAEA that they would not go above 60% levels, and weapons-grade uranium is a minimum of 90%.
Waltz’ new demand is not that Iran goes back down to 20% or anything, it’s to stop enrichment entirely. It’s unclear in the context if Iran is even allowed to keep it’s power plant, though without the ability to enrich uranium to make their own fuel, it would be effectively useless in fairly short order.
Beyond that, Waltz demanded Iran scrap its “weaponization” program, which will be a challenge because Iran does not have one, and US intelligence assessments have repeatedly said Iran hasn’t decided to try to make such a weapon though such assessments never seem to inform the content of US demands.
He also demanded Iran get rid of its entire strategic missile program, which sinse they haven’t even attempted to create nuclear warheads would exclusively impact conventional weapons in Iran’s arsenal. Though presented as something to do with nuclear dismantlement, it is effectively unrelated in the case of these missiles.
Waltz confirmed that the US had received multiple responses from Iran regarding the demands, which were initially submitted through a letter. He declined to discuss what the responses were in any way, but said there was an ongoing “back and forth” and that “all options are on the table.” He further vowed Iran would face consequences if they didn’t submit to the demands.
The latest US demands are by far the furthest they’ve gone in demands for nuclear concessions from Iran, but they once again appear founded in the same false narrative that the program has a military component, even though US intelligence has consistently confirmed it does not.
The refusal to disclose what Iran’s response to the demands has been so far is likely based in part on avoiding talking about how Iran doubtless reiterated that they don’t have such a program to give up. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has publicly responded in part, by rejecting the idea of direct talks with President Trump on the matter.
Khamanei has previously expressed openness to direct talks with the US, but since Trump was the one who tore up the previous nuclear deal, he has said that there is no value in talking with a party they can’t count on to fulfill their commitments.
Russia issued a statement on Friday which appears to reject the basis of the US demands, saying Iran has every right to have a peaceful nuclear program for civilian purposes. Western European nations have previously given lip-service to past US demands to restrict Iran, but it is unclear if even they will go along with the idea that Iran isn’t allowed to enrich uranium to civilian levels. Beyond Israel, the Trump Administration might be alone given the severity of this latest demand.
The IAEA’s Board of Governors often censures Iran through Western-drafted resolutions for its nuclear program even though it is subject to IAEA inspections, and, despite the hype over uranium enrichment levels, there’s no evidence Tehran is seeking a bomb.
On the other hand, Israel’s secret nuclear weapons program, which is not subject to any inspections, rarely gets any attention. This is largely due to the fact that the US also does not acknowledge its existence and doesn’t put any pressure on Israel to sign the NPT.
The US cannot recognize the existence of Israel’s nuclear weapons since foreign assistance laws prohibit military aid to nuclear-armed countries that are not subject to IAEA inspections.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/58d52da1c3030f39516e2f68e2ba6fe3bd8bcf20221830914e4871052035c571.png
The IAEA’s Board is in Washington's pocket.
"if Iran is even allowed to keep it’s power plant, though without the ability to enrich uranium to make their own fuel, it would be effectively useless in fairly short order" That is nonsense, Iran could buy the enrich fuel.
Iran will never agree to these terms. Not happening. So what will trump do? Probably nothing. If would take a very long, expensive major war to take out Iran's nuclear program.
I hope you're right
When asked why Iran wanted a nuclear power plant when they had so much fossil fuel the Shah replied, "Oil is much too valuable to burn." Possibly the only thing that he ever said that I agreed with. IIRC uranium deposits are the second-most valuable natural resource in the country.
and strategic missile programs.
Read that as "anything that can reach Israel" and especially their hyper-sonic missiles, against which there is currently no defense.
"Full dismantlement" is what mad King Donald is experiencing right now. Would someone please lock this crazy dude up and throw away the key?
the same false narrative that the program has a military component, even though US intelligence has consistently confirmed it does not.
Why is the much-hyped new DNI not doing her job?
Iran's nuclear program was started by the United States:
https://youtu.be/7tod8qh1MNA?t=22
Can anyone confirm the "alert" that I read yesterday at Spanish-language website Insurgente saying that Chinese news agencies are reporting that all the US fleets in East Asia have set course for the Middle East all of sudden?
If true, I speculate that those are not the only ones and that other fleets in the Atlantic US coast may also be heading to West Asia (via the Mediterranean), maybe accumulating as many as 5 fleets (?) in the region in a couple of weeks (they won't probably arrive earlier, ships are slow).
If so it may well mean that the USA is heading for full out war vs Yemen and maybe also Iran.
It was easily predictable that flirtation with Russia would be followed by anti-Iran provocations.
Exactly. BB told Don to cozy up Putin and at the same time order Iran to castrate itself to the Zionist god. Note how the Don choses Waltz & Witkoff, gays, to deliver the preposterous threat, throwing the Iranians off balance.
Meanwhile the fully loaded B52's and saturation bombing in North Yemen provide the earnest. As for the 'proximate casus' providing Putin plausible coyness to beg off Tehran, …??
… and Iran demands US commands Israel to give up its military nuclear program…!
Stop it. You make me laugh every time I read an American official utter the word "Diplomatic."
Quid pro quo?!…?….!
Iran should get rid of its entire strategic missile program by emptying their entire stockpile on Israel. If you're going to go down, take the entire region with you. And maybe the world. I mean really, what is the point of even dreaming about the US ever NOT being in Israel's back pocket.
What a dumb idea.
As compared to what? Capitulating to every US demand and giving up any semblance of sovereignty? Taking the rabid dog down would be doing the world a huge favor.
What do think would happen to Iran if they fired all their missiles at Israel? Think it over.
Israel would use the nuclear weapons we're supposed to believe they don't have..?
Why don't you reread my original comment that you replied to. I already addressed that.
It’s easy to make a keyboard warrior comment when you are not at the receiving end.
Geez, thanks for pointing that out to me. Were you bored?
It’s easy for someone else to bump off your problem, and hope for a unicorn. It’s another when you have to put your neck on the line. It’s also the same reason why not a single gulf country, Egypt or even Turkey is willing to sacrifice for what they condemn.
You got to bleed for the dancer.
Waltz me around again, Willie. This is morphing into a clown show unhinged enough to trump Biden.
Washington should lead by example and dismantle the US (civilian and military) nuclear programs and strategic missiles.
Why the Trump administration does not demand that Israel abandon its nuclear program? That was President John F. Kennedy's request in 1963 to avoid a dangerous nuclear arms proliferation.
Nuclear arms can destroy humanity. There should an agreement to abolish all nuclear weapons. That would be a sane solution.
Exactly. no nukes anywhere or all countries have the same number of nukes so that barbaric countries like Israel and the USA cannot invade, kill, demolish smaller countries or ethnic groups of people.
This feels like the run of to the Iraq invasion.
Well the US lost in Iraq and in Afghanistan and those countries were even smaller than Iran. Of course as bloodthirsty as the US and Israel have become I would not put it past them to use a nuke here and there. They have used 2 already before with great arrogance and superiority.
Beyond that, Waltz demanded Iran scrap its “weaponization” program, which will be a challenge because Iran does not have one,
Eerily similar. Proving a negative isn't any more possible than it was in 2003. But what the hell, when it's all you've got, run with it. Just crank up the propaganda machine (which is already being done) and no one will notice it's the same bullshit the US used with Saddam.
I watched Fair Game (free on Prime) last night and "eerily similar" was exactly the feeling I got.
(1) Saddam Hussein had no WMD — Iran has no weapon’s program with a fataw that legally prevents it and (2) the CIA knew/knows it; (3) the White House knew/knows it – before leaving office Bill Burns this past December publicly stated Iran was not seeking a nuclear weapon (4) the agenda of Cheney and his White House neocons intended an invasion of Iraq no matter what – Iran being the last of the 7 countries Wesley Clark revealed “We’re going to take out seven countries in five years, starting with Iraq, and then Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and, finishing off, Iran.” and (5) therefore, the evidence was ignored and we went to – are going to – war based on lies helped by a complicit media. Same Same For Israel!
Iran is familiar with The Project for the New American Century… and they've been prepared for it since the Bush/ Chaney era…!
This contradictory do-as-I-say-damn-you versus "Putin is a nice guy" approach is not going to work.
This piece by Mike Whitney suggests the US is in over its head in thinking military action against Iran. Mar 23.
https://www.unz.com/mwhitney/iran-in-the-crosshairs/
Sounds like a shallow talk show host without knowledge of reality, but fully versed in narrative mimicry. The sociology theory of mimicry is so important today — it is a shame it does not get attention it deserves.
It is a mistake to believe that mimicry of an established narrative is political make-believe. It is not. Population — a segment of — firmly believes in all tenets of the narrative.
No amount of facts disproving their beliefs will do it. It cannot be done. It is only altered by leadership shifting the narrative. There are always competing narratives. But what all narratives have in common— is a scapegoat. And when society gets too fractured, a common scapegoat is a resolution.
There was a common bypartisan scapegoat — Putin. But it fell apart. Trump was savvy enough to find a solution based in the reality on the ground. An anticipated quick win over Russia turned out to be based on faulty premises — weakness of Russia’s economy and military. So the strategy of weakening Russia and have China isolated — proved faulty. More than faulty — delusional.
So Trump abandones scapegoat Putin. Now is in the process of identifying a new, unifying scalegoat. But it is turning dangerously difficult. They cannot easily make China a scapegoat. While there is a bilateral agreement on bad China — they know that US is vulnerable in supply chains. So, no push for personalizec scapegoat .
There is a bipartisan ageement on Gaza — but this pleases only the elites. Population is perilously not going along. Thus Trump’s sudden push to Iran — hoping this scapegoat fills in the vacuum for a while.
So for the first time in American post WWII history there is no identifiable scapegoat — and both parties ard adrif in foreign policy. Trump is masterfully distracting the nedia and populace by throwing out wild ideas — this cannot last forever.
Is US narrative possible without a scapegoat? Well, Trump has many scapegoats. The world is cheating US in trade. Calling it not free trade but stupid trade. Ok. This may work, no need to look how the people still running US affairs today — have been the most passionate advicates of outsourcing and globalising. Trump bimself once upon a time.
Now they want to fix it.
Yet, the real enemy is within. The system that allows speculative capital to “invest” in real economy by loading up high loan load upon a healthy business, turning it into a shell of its former self. No research and development money, shortcuts in the name of efficiency. The goal is to squueze the money. leaving businesses prostrate and struggling for breath.
Why is our science falling behind ? First , many will still not accept this premise. And even less understand the solution. Universities CAN and DO produce talent. But this talent is squandered in an environment that wants short term financial extraction and has no patience for science.
To make things worse, good scientific minds cannot ooerate in an environment where some AI decides what is good science and people with sharp elbows get ahead.
Scientists can take jobs in IT — and check out.
While AI proudly implemented in variohs customsr service functions — cannot manage to help customer change an e-mail. I can attest to that. If something does not fit a preordained model of activity — you are out of luck screaming mad into eather.
If we do not stop irresponsubke “investing” we are not being serious. If we do not assess honestly the AI expectatikns and its appropriate application — we are just gambling with science. In hope that by throwing a mountain of money at AI — it may somebow with pure luck — find simetbing useful.
Demand all you want… not gonna happen…!
Without going into detail, if Iran were to concede to Israel, NATO, and President Trump's demands, a major war might be avoided. Under such conditions, one assumes that Iranian domestic elements tied to Mossad, the CIA, MI6, and MEK might have a notably easier task removing Iran's governmental structure.
It's difficult to determine whether Trump is hurrying to complete a Ukraine-NATO-oriented agreement and whether Russian President Vladimir Putin is "patient" as the video's title states.
If an agreement were 'signed and sealed,' how soon would either side declare a force majeure amid the US economic and currency collapse? I presume that will happen between now and Passover.
It's doubtful Russia will sign an agreement until after the financial collapses occur. What would compel them? Why would they give it a second thought? American and UK corporations and associated military units are busily positioning themselves in western Ukraine amid discussions with Moscow that eastern European nations will take their prized real estate. If that isn't a Russian peace overture, I don't know what is.
Passover would be my estimate of when 'High Noon' with Iran will be realized. Will global Armageddon ensue then? It seems to dovetail with Christian Zionism and radical Judaism as many understand it. Some are predicting the dollar will dive between now and July 4, 2025. It's probably nothing.
Is this Benjamin Netanyahu's idea and one supported by Trump's national security team?
I hope Russian President Vladimir Putin takes additional security precautions between now and May 9, 2025.
Why do Trump and seemingly ANY USA "leader" berate a nation that has not attacked any other nation in hundreds of years (and also renounces nuclear weapons)? Answer – because these "leaders" are afraid to stand up to Israel. Because they have NO BALLS! Regardless of what happens from now on, Trump and his agenda for America has already been roundly compromised and crapped on by, you guessed it, Israel! MILLIONS of Americans will not forget!
"hat has not attacked any other nation in hundreds of years" What do you call the two large missile and drone attacks on Israel last year?
Iran responded to Israeli attacks. They did not instigate. Facts matter
Yes facts do matter. Did Iran attack Israel? Yes. The reason does not matter. The fact that Iran did attack Israel twice last year invalidates the statement "a nation that has not attacked any other nation in hundreds of years".
The point is that Iran is not the aggressor in this situation.
Kind of like how Russia's invasion of Ukraine was totally provoked? Facts do matter, if anyone cares about them.
They also attacked Iran after Iraq attacked them. Notice a trend here? And both times the US was backing the other side.
I cannot watch this crap anymore. I know I've said this several times, but this administration – from the fucking FBI to the White House – is in lock step with the bastards in Tel Aviv, who have ordered Trump to decapitate the Iranian leadership – for Bibi, so he can escape responsibility for his criminally obscene acts.
Screw this. What citizens have to say in opposition to this madness means absolutely nothing – just voices whispering in a closet.