Staff Reports
The latest round of nuclear negotiations between the United States and Iran concluded in Rome this weekend, with both sides touting “progress” and agreeing to move discussions to the expert level in Oman next week. While the Biden and Obama administrations were content to appease Tehran with weak deals, President Trump is taking a tougher, America-first approach—insisting that Iran must never be allowed to possess a nuclear weapon, and making clear that all options, including military force, remain on the table. Yet, as these talks drag on, skeptics are right to question whether diplomatic engagement alone will prevent the world’s leading state sponsor of terror from acquiring the ultimate weapon.
Iran’s nuclear ambitions have persisted for decades, and every time the West has blinked, Tehran has advanced its program. Under the disastrous 2015 Obama-Biden nuclear deal, Iran received billions in sanctions relief and was allowed to keep enriching uranium, all while continuing its ballistic missile development and regional aggression. President Trump wisely withdrew from that agreement in 2018, reinstating crippling sanctions and restoring U.S. leverage. Now, as Iran races toward weapons-grade enrichment, the stakes are higher than ever—and the window for meaningful action is closing fast.
Israel, America’s closest ally in the Middle East, has made clear it will not tolerate a nuclear-armed Iran. Prime Minister Netanyahu has openly discussed the possibility of limited military strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, especially as diplomatic efforts appear to stall. While President Trump has so far declined to endorse an immediate Israeli operation, preferring to exhaust diplomatic channels, he has not ruled out supporting military action if negotiations fail. This is the kind of resolve that was sorely lacking in previous administrations, and it sends a necessary message of deterrence to both Tehran and America’s allies.
Despite the positive spin from negotiators, the reality is that Iran has repeatedly violated its commitments and continues to demand sanctions relief in exchange for only temporary and easily reversible limits on its nuclear activities. The regime’s leaders have made it clear that they will not dismantle their nuclear infrastructure or accept the kind of intrusive inspections required to guarantee compliance. Any deal that falls short of complete dismantlement and real verification would be nothing more than a dangerous fig leaf, enabling Iran to bide its time while inching ever closer to the bomb.
As these talks move forward, the United States must stand firm: no enrichment, no weaponization, and no concessions until Iran proves, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that it has abandoned its nuclear ambitions. Anything less would not only betray our allies and endanger American security but also embolden tyrants everywhere who believe that the West lacks the will to defend itself. The world cannot afford another failed nuclear deal with Iran. It’s time to put American strength and credibility first.
