No nuclear arms for Iran 'non-negotiable' condition: US
Washington, April 8
, The United States has made clear that Iran will never be allowed to possess nuclear weapons, with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth calling it a "non-negotiable" condition under the emerging ceasefire framework.
"It's always been non-negotiable that they won't have nuclear capabilities," Hegseth said, outlining Washington's red line as talks move forward following weeks of military confrontation.
The statement comes amid intensified US scrutiny of Iran's remaining nuclear material, which officials say is currently being monitored closely after large-scale strikes on Tehran's nuclear infrastructure.
"Right now, it's buried, and we're watching it... we know exactly what they have," Hegseth said.
He said Iran would be required to hand over any enriched material or face further action.
"They will either give it to us... or if we have to do something else ourselves... we reserve that opportunity," he said.
The Pentagon indicated that the US is prepared to remove the material "by any means necessary," underscoring the firmness of its position on preventing Iran from rebuilding its nuclear capability.
Officials said recent operations had already degraded Iran's nuclear infrastructure significantly. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force General Dan Caine said nearly 80 per cent of Iran's nuclear industrial base had been hit during the campaign.
The US military action, part of 'Operation Epic Fury', targeted facilities linked to missile production, drone manufacturing and nuclear development, alongside command and control networks.
Hegseth said the pressure created by these strikes forced Iran to reconsider its position.
"They know this agreement means that they will never, ever possess a nuclear weapon," he said.
He also pointed to a shift in Iran's leadership dynamics, suggesting that the current leadership has recalibrated its approach after witnessing the scale of US military capability.
"This new regime... has a new calculus about what it means to negotiate with us," Hegseth said.
US officials said the nuclear issue would remain central to any long-term deal, with compliance to be enforced through continued monitoring and military readiness.
"We're watching it... we'll get it, we'll take it if we have to," Hegseth reiterated.
The administration has signalled that failure to comply could trigger renewed strikes similar to earlier operations targeting Iranian facilities.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Strong message, but will it work long-term? Iran has shown resilience. As an Indian, I'm concerned about how this tension affects global oil prices and our economy. Stability in the Middle East is crucial for us. Hope cooler heads prevail for the sake of all civilians in the region. 🙏
Finally some clarity! Nuclear weapons in the hands of a regime with Iran's track record is a threat to the whole world, including India. We've seen state-sponsored terrorism from that region. The US is doing what the UN should have done. Operation Epic Fury seems to have delivered results.
The tone is very aggressive. "We'll take it if we have to" – sounds like a schoolyard bully. As someone living in India, I appreciate our country's more nuanced foreign policy. This approach just breeds more resentment and future conflict. There has to be a better way.
Interesting to see the US apply this standard so rigidly to Iran. What about other nuclear-armed nations? The double standards in global politics are glaring. India should use this moment to strengthen its own strategic position and partnerships. Jai Hind!
The article mentions "new regime" and "new calculus". If true, that's the most important part. Maybe the strikes did force a rethink. But lasting peace needs trust, not just fear. Hope the monitoring is fair and transparent. The common people in Iran have suffered enough.
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