National Security Advisor Mike Waltz said on Sunday that President Donald Trump is working to “completely dismantle” Iran's nuclear program “facing the people.”
Margaret Brennan: Good morning. Welcome to “Facing the People.” There are a lot to do with Homefront, but we start with national security first. In just a few hours, US authorities will hold talks with Ukraine, and tomorrow will be holding another round with Russia in pursuit of a 30-day ceasefire. In the meantime, the Trump administration has increased the presence of US troops in the Middle East and sent a second aircraft into the region. This morning we'll start with Mike Waltz, the White House national security advisor. I'm happy to be welcoming you here.
Waltz: Thank you Margaret.
Brennan: Iran-backed Houtis, they continue to fire in Israel. What did you achieve in the final week of the bombing? And if you are responsible for Iran, what's next?
WALTZ: Well, we've taken out important Houthi leadership, including their head missaire. We hit their headquarters. Communication nodes, arms factories, and even some parts of water drone production facilities have been hits. In recent days, President Trump has decided to attack and hit the Hoosis hard, in contrast to the last administration that literally passes by in a one-off Pimprik attack like this. As a result, one of the most important ocean lanes in the world has been closed. So these guys are like al-Qaeda and ISIS with advanced cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and some of the most sophisticated air defenses offered by all Margarets. Just here everyone understands the impact here, so when one of our destroyers passed through the strait there, it was attacked 23 times. 75% of US flag delivery must travel around Africa's southern coast, rather than passing through the Suez Canal. And keeping trade and commerce open is a fundamental aspect of our national security. The last administration was ineffective. The Trump administration and President Trump have decided to do much more difficult, much tougher, and much more.
Brennan: So the president said he would hold Iran responsible too. Envoy Steve Witkov said in an interview that Iran responded to the US outreach through multiple channels. Regarding the letter sent by the president, Witkov described it as “an offer to Iran to create a verification program.” [that] No one is worried about weaponization [your] Nuclear material. “Is the US calling for the dismantling of Iran's nuclear program, just like President Obama introduced in 2015 and President Trump withdrew?
Waltz: Complete dismantling. Iran must abandon its programme in a way that the whole world can see. And this looks like it –
Brennan: Have you ever said they're interested?
Waltz: – Like President Trump said, this is in my mind. All options are on the table, when Iran completely leaves his desire to have nuclear weapons. That – and they are not allowed to have a nuclear weapons program, nor are they allowed to.
(Starts crosstalk)
Brennan: Did they respond?
Waltz: It's concentrated –
Brennan: – In the president's call for peace negotiations?
(End crosstalk)
WALTZ: It's weaponization and its strategic missile program. Can you imagine it? We've seen the Hezbollah, the Assad regime, the Housis and what you have, the death and destruction they're doing through that proxy. If they had nuclear weapons, the entire Middle East would explode in an arms race. It is not entirely acceptable to our national security. I'm not going back and forth, but Iran has been in the worst place since 1979 thanks to its own air defenses taken from its own security, by the Hezbollah, Hamas, the Assad regimes and the Israelis.
Brennan: So, are there still opportunities for diplomacy? I know you won't come in – it's okay.
WALTZ: Of course, the President has all his options on the table. But we want to be clear. This isn't the kind of TAT we had under the Obama administration or Biden. This is a complete program. If you give up on it, you'll have consequences.
