Jacob Nagel
Jerusalem Post, May 8, 2025
“The clearest voices have come from Secretary Rubio and Senators Graham and Cotton. They have consistently argued that any agreement must result in the full dismantling of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure to prevent military conflict.”
As the fourth round of negotiations between the US and Iran approaches, a barrage of conflicting statements, reports, and analyses continues to emerge—many riddled with inaccuracies. These stem either from a lack of understanding of technical details or from a deliberate desire to maintain ambiguity and prolong the talks.
Before this new round begins, it is crucial to clarify the current status of Iran’s nuclear program and define the steps needed to ensure the international community’s stated objective—one that all, except Iran, agree on: Iran must not obtain nuclear weapons or the capability to produce them.
US President Donald Trump has returned to office with a clear message: Iran will never possess nuclear weapons. But clarity on what that entails—and how to achieve it—is still lacking. Two main camps have emerged within his administration and Republican leadership, each with its own approach to this goal.
The first group includes Vice President JD Vance and Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff. The second includes Secretary of State Marco Rubio—who is also serving as National Security Advisor—and senior Republican senators Lindsey Graham and Tom Cotton. Former National Security Advisor Michael Waltz had been a key figure in this camp before stepping down, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth appears to remain undecided.
Trump has emphasized the need for the “total dismantling” of Iran’s nuclear capabilities, particularly its enrichment activities. He has made clear he does not oppose Iran pursuing peaceful nuclear energy, provided it is strictly civilian. …SOURCE