Vice President Kamala Harris had harsh words for Iran in an interview Monday night, calling the Iranian regime America's greatest enemy.
During a roundtable discussion on CBS's “60 Minutes,” the Democratic presidential candidate was asked to name America's greatest foreign enemy. “I think the obvious place in mind is Iran. Iran has American blood in its veins.”
“This attack on Israel, 200 ballistic missiles. What we have to do to ensure that Iran never achieves the ability to become a nuclear power. That's one of my top priorities. is.”
Harris declined to say whether she would take military action if given evidence that Iran is building nuclear weapons.
“I'm not going to talk about hypotheticals at this point,” she told Bill Whitaker.
The suggestion that Iran is America's number one enemy raised eyebrows for some, as many consider China to be number one.
“Is our greatest enemy not China but Iran?” said Mary Kissel, a former aide to the US Secretary of State. State Rep. Mike Pompeo wrote on Platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
Photo of Kamala Harris during a sit-down interview on CBS' “60 Minutes.'' (Screenshot/CBS News)
Five key takeaways from Harris' “60 Minutes'' interview
“Harris' assertion that America's greatest enemy is Iran, not China, is completely ignorant,” said Steve Cortez, a former adviser to President Trump.
“Really? Isn't it Russia? Isn't it China? Is a middle power America's biggest enemy?” asked Iranian nuclear researcher Sina Azodi.
Harris also defended U.S. aid to Israel, as many liberals have called on her to halt aid or attach conditions as the death toll rises in Gaza and across Lebanon.
“Thanks to the assistance we gave to Israel, Israel was able to defend itself against 200 ballistic missiles aimed at attacking Israelis and Israeli citizens,” she said.
Harris highlighted the threat from “Hamas, Hezbollah…Iran,” adding, “There is no doubt that it is our responsibility to do everything we can to help Israel protect itself from that type of attack.” There is no room,'' he said.
Still, she held out hope that Israel and its enemies could reach a cease-fire agreement.
“The work we are doing diplomatically with Israeli leaders makes clear our principles, including the need for humanitarian aid, the need to end this war, and the need to reach an agreement that will be liberated. Our ongoing pursuit is centered around “freeing the hostages and establishing a cease-fire.'' He added: “We are not going to stop in terms of putting pressure on the region, including Israel and Arab leaders.”
“I think China is the much bigger threat, as everyone expects,” said Rob Greenway, a former Trump aide and senior director on the National Security Council. “If they truly see Iran as a threat, their actions make no sense at all.”
Former President Donald Trump said President Joe Biden and Harris eased sanctions on Iran, making America's adversaries “very rich in a very short period of time,” starting with the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. accused of causing confusion. .
Jerusalem residents evacuate due to Iranian missile barrage, October 1, 2024 (Credit: Yoav Dudkevitch/TPS-IL)
At a rally last week, President Trump lashed out at the September 2023 prisoner exchange between the United States and Iran, which facilitated a detainee exchange in Qatar and resulted in the release of $6 billion in Iranian assets frozen through oil sales. intervened.
“Whenever someone is kidnapped, the amount is $6 billion. Has anyone heard of that?” Trump said. “Other people will receive about $4,000.”
Iran said on Monday it had reached a “full understanding” to access funds from Qatari bank accounts.
Meanwhile, the Biden administration has long maintained that it is not lifting sanctions against Iran. But, Greenway said, “we are not enforcing any sanctions.” Iran is Currently bringing in Approximately $36 billion is generated annually from oil sales.
Last week, Iran dropped 200 missiles toward Tel Aviv, many of which were intercepted by both the Israel Defense Forces and U.S. capabilities. Iranian proxies have long attacked both Israeli and American positions, but this was the Iranian regime's first direct attack on Israel since April.
Harris was a harsh critic of President Trump, who withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018. President Joe Biden called for a return to the nuclear deal, but failed to do so when he took office.
”[Iran] I made a huge amount of money. They've had their doors opened by the U.S. government,” Greenway said.
Harris' “Word Salad” on the Israeli Alliance
The Trump administration's policies have “brought us to the brink of financial collapse.”
After Biden lifts sanctions Regarding Iran, The regime increased the number of centrifuges needed to make a nuclear bomb from 500 to 7,000. Enriched uranium has increased from 5% to 60% (90% is required for nuclear weapons). Oil exports have increased from 400,000 barrels per day in 2019 under the Trump administration's harsh sanctions to 1.7 million barrels per day today.
Iran, led by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, is on the brink of mastering the production of nuclear weapons. (Iranian Leader Press Room/Materials/Anadolu, via Getty Images)
Report too Suggest new activities at two of Iran's nuclearization facilities, Sanjarian and Ghorab Dareh.
Biden last week warned Israel to ensure its response to Iranian missile attacks is “proportional” and urged it not to attack Iran's nuclear facilities.
President Trump said Friday that Israel should pursue its nuclear facilities.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
While speaking at a campaign event in Fayetteville, North Carolina, Biden was asked about Israel's attack on Iran and said, “'As long as we don't do a nuclear attack,'” Biden said. That’s what you want to hit, right? I said, “I think he got it wrong.”
He added that nuclear proliferation is “the biggest risk we have.”
When Biden was asked about Israel and Iran, President Trump said, “Biden's answer should have been, 'We're going to strike nuclear first. Worry about the rest later.'
