Mike Waltz, NATO leader Mark Rutte and more

[0:01] i'm margaret brennan in washington and this week on face the nation is president trump eyeing an [0:07] exit from the war with iran or is he doubling down an escalation in the war with iran with [0:14] nuclear and energy sites being targeted in the middle east and growing tensions among the u.s [0:20] and some allies plus a new warning overnight from president trump threatening to destroy [0:26] iran's power plants unless tehran reopens the straight of four moves back home the president [0:32] says that most of his objectives have been fulfilled in the conflict oh i think we've won [0:37] we've knocked out their navy their air force we've knocked out their anti-aircraft we've knocked out [0:42] everything no i'm not putting troops anywhere if i if i were i certainly wouldn't tell you but cbs [0:49] news has learned that there are detailed preparations being made for deploying u.s ground [0:54] forces into iran [0:56] so what's really going on we'll talk with key voices in the conflict including u.s ambassador [1:02] to the united nations mike waltz the head of the u.n nuclear watchdog agency rafael grossi [1:08] and nato's secretary general mark ruta plus as the standoff between congressional democrats [1:15] and the administration over funding the department of homeland security marks day 37 [1:20] president trump is now threatening to deploy ice agents to assist with the shortage of tsa [1:26] in the united states the u.s government is now threatening to deploy ice agents to assist with [1:26] the shortage of tsa in the united states the u.s government is now threatening to deploy ice agents [1:26] at airports we'll ask democratic congressman jason crowe where negotiations stand it's all just ahead [1:34] on face the nation good morning and welcome to face the nation we begin today with the latest [1:54] from the middle east and charlie dagada in arad israel overnight iranian ballistic missiles slammed [2:03] into parts of israel inflicting the kind of destruction not seen here since the start of the [2:12] war nearly 200 wounded in [2:16] strikes in the central cities of demona and iraq and into the morning hitting population centers [2:24] such as tel aviv officials are investigating how the missiles pierced israel's multi-layered [2:30] air defense systems amid worries israel may be running low on interceptors as the war enters [2:36] a fourth week the launch of two long-range ballistic missiles fired toward the joint [2:42] u.s uk military base of diego garcia that's around two thousand miles [2:47] away in the indian ocean raising serious concerns about both the reach [2:52] and number of these types of weapons iran claimed it was not developing missiles that could cover [2:59] more than roughly 1200 miles but these longer range launches now potentially put european [3:05] capitals and more u.s military bases at risk iranian state media has framed the overnight [3:11] attacks on israel as retaliation for the bombing of the natanz nuclear facility we're at the scene [3:19] one of those strikes you can see the crater behind me and destruction in every direction [3:23] but officials tell me as bad as this was it could have been a lot worse because it landed [3:28] in the middle of a block of apartment buildings instead of on top of one that's charlie dagada [3:34] reporting in iran israel we're joined now by the u.s ambassador to the united nations [3:40] mike waltz and it's good to have you here in person so ambassador on friday the president [3:46] tweeted the hormuz strait will have to be guarded and policed as necessary [3:50] by other nations who use it the united states does not and then last night he threatened that [3:55] if iran doesn't fully open the strait of hormuz within 48 hours the u.s will hit and obliterate [4:00] their power plants starting with the biggest one first so which is it is the u.s opening hormuz by [4:06] force or having others do it well i think it can be both uh it's not necessarily mutually exclusive [4:12] i'm glad you're having nato secretary general mark ruta on i think at his urging and his leadership [4:18] we've now seen italy [4:20] germany france and a number of others commit to help with this effort [4:24] after particularly since particularly since uh so much energy is going uh to europe out of the [4:30] straits we just had the japanese prime minister uh commit to portions of her navy and the japanese [4:36] navy eighty percent of what's coming out of the gulf is going uh to asia so we are seeing our [4:42] allies uh come around as they should but at the same time the president is not going to stand for [4:50] it's threatened and tried for five decades to hold the world's energy supplies hostage [4:55] uh under you know it's um it's genocidal intent so uh some allies like the united kingdom have [5:01] talked about things like surveillance anti-mining anti-drone support for the united states but [5:07] in that appeal from the united states i should say in the strait of hormuz but not until [5:11] active combat ends to be clear that's what we're talking about well and the president's been clear [5:15] too he's going to continue to pound iran's capabilities it's missile it's [5:20] missile uh and its drone capability you know margaret we have to take a step back [5:25] we've seen what it's doing now in terms of attacking ports airports civilian infrastructure [5:32] hotels resorts and what it's trying to do uh to global energy supplies one can only imagine [5:39] if it had a nuclear umbrella one could only imagine if iran achieved its aim to test [5:46] then you have saudi arabia wanting a nuclear program [5:50] the perhaps the uae turkey or others and when people ask why does this matter to our security [5:56] here at home it should petrify every american that you could potentially have a nuclear uh [6:03] middle east a wash uh in weapons well they're they're not enriching they weren't enriching [6:08] leading up to this is what u.s officials have have testified to but just on this point about [6:12] what the president well they couldn't enrich because of operation midnight hammer that [6:16] obliterated their ability to enrich they had every intent they do have to continue they do [6:20] have a nuclear power plant bushire it's actually their largest um energy plant it's a civilian site [6:26] so it's actually not their largest energy plants about one about one gigawatt they have larger ones [6:31] that are gas uh fired outside of tehran okay so but just case in point okay but but in this case [6:38] in that clarification the reason i'm asking you is when the president says he's going to bomb energy [6:43] infrastructure civilian energy infrastructure is he going to bomb a nuclear power plant or is that [6:49] off the table [6:50] well i would never take anything off the table for the president certainly not on on on national [6:55] television however there are larger plants there's one outside of tehran there are others outside of [7:01] of other cities that are gas fired thermal thermal powered i think the important point [7:06] here is to understand the irgc a declared terrorist organization not only by us but [7:11] in a number of european countries controls a huge swath of iran's critical infrastructure their [7:20] nuclear power plant and certainly many of their governing institutions and so to the extent we're [7:24] degrading their military capability and their defense industrial base uh all options should [7:29] be on the table and the president's made that very clear how do you ensure that this doesn't [7:33] constitute a war crime which the u.n secretary general said an attack on energy infrastructure [7:38] could be how do you make sure this is not mass punishment for innocence well i think [7:42] you know i would encourage and will encourage the secretary general to point out uh the 20 to 30 000 [7:50] iranians that the regime massacred at scale the civilian infrastructure that they're attacking [7:57] and when you but when you have a regime that that has its grips and so much critical infrastructure [8:02] that's using it to further not only the repression of its own people to attack its neighbors [8:07] uh and in contravention of u.n sanctions to march towards a nuclear weapon then that makes those [8:12] legitimate targets okay well you know that in many of these places water desalinization is linked into [8:20] that energy infrastructure and so i think it's important that we make sure that this is not mass [8:21] infrastructure civilian infrastructure this is why it's a question i have no doubt that that the [8:25] president the pentagon uh their team will ensure that what they target uh is geared towards the [8:34] military infrastructure of iran but i have to tell you they deliberately blend have a long history [8:39] everything from hiding weapons under schools and hospitals to using power plants and other [8:45] critical infrastructure to not only power their military but their civilian and they deliberately [8:51] get to do the work that they can because the ‫they get it and then they we're done [8:56] let me ask you about what we saw overnight with these missile attacks um the director of national [9:01] intelligence testified last week to congress that iran could not develop a militarily viable icbm [9:06] intercontinental ballistic missile before 2035 if it attempted to pursue that capability yesterday [9:13] the idf said israel said that iran did fire an icbm has this changed the u.s government? [9:21] assessment? Well, I'm not familiar with the IDF's assessment. I can tell you that UK just condemned [9:29] the firing of an intermediate range ballistic missile at Diego Garcia. That same type of missile [9:36] Iran has lied about in terms of its development and said they were not developing, yet they just [9:42] lied, yet they just did it. Not only could it hit Diego Garcia, it could hit capitals in Europe. [9:48] And Margaret, the technology, the booster technology that Iran has been hiding behind [9:53] its space program, I don't think we're going to see Iranian astronauts on the moon anytime soon, [9:59] that this space program has been hiding that technology. You have the reentry technology. [10:04] To marry the two really doesn't take very much in terms of technological development. And we just [10:11] have to thank God the president is taking action now and stopping this march towards a fully-fledged [10:18] new country. [10:18] program instead of waiting until after it's developed, like we saw in North Korea under the [10:23] Clinton administration, say, surprise, we now have a full program. [10:27] So a difference there in the assessments. But let me ask you about our polling. [10:30] It won't be the first time you have different intelligence assessments, by the way, [10:33] by different intelligence communities. [10:34] Absolutely. The administration hasn't convinced, we've seen it in our polling, [10:38] the majority of Americans, that this war was necessary. 66% of Americans believe conflict [10:43] with Iran is a war of choice. 60% disapprove of the U.S. taking military [10:48] action. 60% disapprove of the U.S. taking military action. 60% disapprove of the U.S. taking military [10:48] action against Iran. 57% of Americans think the conflict is going very or somewhat badly. [10:55] How do you tell the American people they're wrong? [10:57] Well, I can quote a whole slew of polls that show, for example, self-described MAGA Republicans give [11:06] the president a 100% approval rating. A majority say the number one job of the commander-in-chief [11:12] is to keep Americans safe. I can point here to an NBC poll, 90% of Republicans, [11:19] broader Republicans, support Trump's effort to destroy Iran's nuclear capabilities. And I have [11:26] to point out, no one should be surprised here. President Trump has said Iran cannot have a [11:31] nuclear weapon. 2016 campaign, 2020 campaign. Since 2024, he's said it 74 times out in the [11:39] public space. But if he's going to commit any kind of ground troops or boots on the ground, [11:45] don't you think he needs to persuade the majority of American people, not just his base? I think, [11:49] you know, I think he needs to persuade the majority of American people, not just his base. I think, [11:49] you know, I think he needs to persuade the majority of American people, not just his base. I think, [11:50] the president will keep all options on the table to secure these objectives. And as a veteran, [11:57] as a parent, I thank God he's not kicking the can like so many administrations have for 50 years [12:03] until this is a catastrophic problem where we have very limited options to deal with, [12:09] much less an entire Middle East, potentially a wash and nukes. [12:13] Ambassador Walsh, thank you for your time this morning. [12:15] All right. Thank you. [12:16] Face Nation will be back in a minute, so stay with us. [12:18] We turn now to NATO. [12:23] Secretary General Mark Rutte, who joins us this morning from The Hague in the Netherlands. [12:27] Welcome back to Face the Nation. [12:30] Mark, it's good to be back on the program. Good morning. [12:32] Good morning. [12:33] We did see that Iran fired two missiles at Diego Garcia. [12:37] That's that island in the Indian Ocean, which houses a U.S.-U.K. joint base. [12:43] That was 4,000 kilometers from Iranian territory, furthest Iran has ever gone. [12:47] You just heard Ambassador Walsh say there might be a difference there in how Israel and the U.S. [12:53] assess that capability Iran has in terms of what they've fired. [12:57] But Israel says these were intercontinental ballistic missiles that could hit Berlin, Paris and Rome. [13:04] Does NATO share that Israeli assessment? [13:07] We cannot confirm that at the moment, so we're looking into that. [13:11] But if this would be true, it is the more evidence that what the president is doing here, [13:16] taking out the ballistic missile capability, taking out the nuclear capability from Iran, is crucial. [13:22] And exactly as the ambassador just said. [13:24] Ambassador Walsh, we have seen with North Korea, if we negotiate for too long, [13:30] you might pass the moment where you can still get this thing done. [13:34] And North Korea now has the nuclear capability. [13:37] If Iran would have the nuclear capability, including together with the missile capability, [13:42] it would be a direct threat, an existential threat to Israel, to the region, to Europe, to the stability in the world. [13:49] So the president doing this is crucial. [13:51] And I've seen the polling. [13:53] But I really hope. [13:54] The American people will be with him because he is doing this to make the whole world safer. [13:58] So. But just to be clear, at this hour, do you believe that Iran could bomb Berlin, Paris and Rome? [14:04] Are they all within direct threat range? [14:07] What we know for sure is that they are very close to having that capability. [14:10] Whether this case with the UK base Diego Garcia, we are still assessing. [14:17] But if it is true, it means they already have that capability. [14:19] If it is not true, we know they are very close to having that capability. [14:23] And that is exactly. [14:24] Why I feel in Europe that most politicians and it resonates with them what the president is doing here, [14:33] which is taking out, degrading Iran's capability to be again an exporter of chaos, share chaos to the region, to the world. [14:42] Well, I'm sure the president appreciates your praise, but he has been very frustrated and made that clear this week with NATO and the European allies. [14:51] He called NATO, quote, a paper tiger without the US. [14:54] He said they complain about high oil prices when they're forced to pay, but they don't want to help open the Strait of Hormuz. [15:00] Easy for them, cowards. [15:03] We will remember. [15:06] I've been in several conversations this week with the president. [15:09] And the good news is that, look, we had the US for weeks planning for epic fury and for reasons of security and safety. [15:17] They could not share with European allies and allies around the world and partner countries what they were doing because that would have jeopardized [15:26] the effect of the first first attack, or it would have allowed you to plan logical that European countries needed a couple of weeks to come together. [15:33] But at this moment, the good news is this, that since Thursday, 22 countries, most of them NATO, but also Japan, Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Bahrain, the UAE, have come together to basically answer three questions. [15:50] What do we need? [15:51] When do we need it and where do we need it? [15:53] These three questions are no work through to to answer. [15:56] The president's call to make sure that we secure the free sailing through the Strait of Hormuz. [16:02] To be clear, the president has said four to six weeks for this war. [16:08] That would put us in early April for an end to combat operations. [16:12] But then he's also sending troops. [16:13] He's also possibly asking Congress for more money. [16:16] What's the when part? [16:18] When did he tell you your support from these European countries will be needed? [16:24] Because from the sources I speak to, they are not willing to send in. [16:28] The. [16:28] Miss of combat. [16:30] Well, obviously, I cannot in a program which is aired around the world and you have a lot of viewers discuss with you what is discussed in secrecy. [16:40] But I can assure you that, of course, in the UK is is at the forefront of leading this effort of the 22 countries on the leadership of Prime Minister Starmer. [16:50] I've been in the phone call this week with Prime Minister Starmer and President Macron. [16:53] And again, this has led to 22 countries now signing up to this initiative. [16:58] And. [16:58] Indeed, one of the key questions is not only the what question and the where question, but also the when question. [17:04] And this is why military planners are now working together to make sure that we are ready to make sure that that's straight, that straight of her moves and that we secure the free sailing there, which is crucial for the world economy. [17:17] The president. [17:18] Seemed to say, though, that this will go beyond Iran. [17:23] In terms of the impact on his thinking about NATO and his willingness to help Europe. [17:28] Take a listen. The president. Seemed to say, though, that this will go beyond Iran in terms of the impact on his thinking about NATO and his willingness to help Europe. Take a listen. [17:28] listen to this. I think NATO is making a very foolish mistake. And I've long said that, you [17:35] know, I wonder whether or not NATO would ever be there for us. So this is a this was a great test [17:41] because we don't need them, but they should have been there. The president continues to frame this [17:46] sort of like a quid pro quo. And he's also mentioned Ukraine in the same context, saying I [17:51] help Europe with Ukraine. Why aren't they helping me? Are you worried that this is going to hurt [17:57] NATO's goals elsewhere? What I know is that we always come together. It was under President [18:04] Trump's leadership that we had the extremely successful summit in The Hague, where we agreed [18:09] to spend five percent of our GDP on defense and therefore equalizing for the first time since [18:15] Eisenhower. So this is quite some time, some time back in history, equalizing what the Europeans [18:20] are spending and what the Americans are spending, not only because it is fair that we all spend the [18:24] same. And this was a wish from Trump 45. And now it's Trump 47. [18:28] He got this done, but also because we need it because of the Russian threat and our other [18:33] adversaries. Then on Ukraine, it is again the U.S. providing critical intelligence, support and [18:39] weapons flow, working together with Europeans to secure Ukraine's fight against the Russians, [18:44] making sure they have what they need. And now with Iran, I'm absolutely convinced and I understand [18:50] the president's frustration that it takes some time. But again, I also ask for some understanding [18:54] because nations had to prepare for this, not knowing. [18:58] And for the rest of the world, I think it's a very important thing. [18:58] And for the rest of the world, I think it's a very important thing. And for the rest of the world, I think it's a very important thing. [18:58] And for the rest of the world, I think it's a very important thing. And for good reasons about the initial [19:00] attack on Iran. But now coming together to make sure that we can be able to secure the Strait of Hormuz. [19:06] No, but to be clear, I mean, I've spoken to some NATO members who say this is a defensive alliance, [19:11] not an offensive one. We didn't sign up to go do what the president is asking us to do. [19:16] But on the Russia point you just made, the European Council president said the U.S. [19:21] decision to lift sanctions on Russian oil exports is very concerning as it impacts [19:26] European security. This is part of what President Trump's doing. [19:28] This is part of what President Trump's doing to try to stop the spike in oil prices here [19:32] at home. [19:33] The Treasury Secretary says this means about $2 billion is going to Russia now. [19:39] President Zelenskyy says it's more like $10 billion. Doesn't this benefit Vladimir Putin? [19:44] Well, this is the thing. The president has to balance all these different interests. [19:47] I know that he is with his team, with Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff and Marco Rubio, [19:53] they're constantly working with the Ukrainians to put maximum pressure on the Russians to [19:57] come to a deal. [19:59] I know. [19:59] I spoke an hour and a half last week with President Zelenskyy in London. [20:03] He wants to get the deal done. [20:05] And we have to make sure that we also take this to the Russians to make sure that they [20:09] are willing to play ball. [20:10] It is the president putting that pressure together with the Europeans. [20:13] But again, he has to balance all these different interests. [20:16] So I'm not going to comment on each element of what is happening here. [20:19] But his effort to bring the war in Ukraine to a successful end is crucial. [20:24] He was the only one who was able to break the deadlock with Putin when he made the first [20:28] phone call in February last year. [20:29] Yeah. [20:29] Yeah. [20:29] Yeah. [20:29] Yeah. [20:29] And he has consistently with his team done what is necessary to put that pressure, of [20:33] course, on the Ukrainians. [20:34] And they want to play ball. [20:36] They've showed this. [20:37] They want to end the war and also with the Russians. [20:39] Well, we'll see if Vladimir Putin wants to play ball. [20:42] Secretary General, thank you for your time. [20:45] And we'll be right back with a lot more Face the Nation. [20:48] Stay with us. [20:52] And we're joined now by Colorado Democratic Congressman Jason Crowe. [20:55] Welcome back. [20:56] Thanks, Margaret. [20:57] So you sit on the House Intelligence Committee this past week. [21:01] You heard the director of national intelligence. [21:02] You heard the director of national intelligence testify about Iran's capabilities, saying [21:07] we wouldn't see an ICBM that would, in theory, be the thing that would carry a nuclear warhead, [21:13] right, to American shores. [21:14] She said they wouldn't have one until 2035 if they even tried at all. [21:20] Are you afraid she was wrong? [21:22] Because Israel is saying that what was fired was an ICBM that was aimed at this U.S.-U.K. [21:27] base. [21:28] Yeah. [21:29] She could be wrong. [21:30] And we obviously have to dive into the intelligence. [21:31] The question has never been whether or not. [21:33] Iran poses a threat or a series of threats to the United States. [21:37] But that's where the analysis begins, not when the analysis ends. [21:40] Right. [21:41] We have lots of threats. [21:42] Kim Jong Un poses a threat. [21:44] Putin poses a threat. [21:45] We have threats around the world. [21:47] The question is, what do we do about it? [21:49] And right now we've spent $20 billion in the first two weeks of this war alone, one and [21:53] a half billion dollars a day. [21:55] Americans are paying $300 million a day extra in energy prices. [22:00] The terror threat around the world against the United States. [22:02] And Americans is spreading. [22:06] And there's no off ramp. [22:07] We have no strategy and no end game. [22:09] This is a mess by any definition. [22:11] And now we have to figure out what we do from here. [22:13] So no timeline beyond the four to six weeks has been briefed or shared with Congress at [22:18] this point? [22:19] No, no. [22:20] We are not getting the information from this this administration. [22:23] They started this war without congressional authorization. [22:26] There's no imminent threat. [22:28] They actually have even stopped trying to pretend there was an imminent threat, which, [22:32] which is what is necessary for the president to take action without congressional approval. [22:37] So now here we are spending tens of billions of dollars of taxpayer money, losing American [22:42] lives. [22:43] Congress isn't involved. [22:44] We've been stonewalled. [22:46] The American people are not in the driver's seat here because Congress has been sidelined [22:50] in this. [22:52] They are the ones that need to have the voice and whether or not they're going to send their [22:55] sons and daughters to go fight this war, whether or not they're going to finance it. [22:59] It's time for this to end. [23:00] Let's take a break. [23:02] I have more to talk to you about on the other side of it. [23:04] So all of you, please stay with us. [23:06] We'll be right back. [23:15] Back to Face the Nation. [23:16] We return now to our conversation with Colorado Congressman Jason Crowe. [23:21] Before we leave the topic of Iran, I do want to ask you last Sunday on this program, the [23:26] White House economic adviser, Kevin Hassett, said the war was ahead of schedule. [23:31] And while it was up to the budget office, he didn't think the administration would need [23:35] any kind of supplemental funding. [23:38] But then days later, Secretary Hage said. [23:39] Thank you. [23:39] Thank you. [23:39] Secretary Hage said seemed to confirm the Pentagon needed as much as two hundred billion [23:43] dollars as far as two hundred billion dollars. [23:48] I think that number could move. [23:50] Obviously, it takes it takes money to kill bad guys. [23:55] So we're going back to Congress and our folks there to ensure that we're properly funded [24:00] for what's been done for what we may have to do in the future. [24:05] I know you're opposed to the war, but is there a way to structure this deal? [24:08] Would you where you would be comfortable with additional funds? [24:12] No. [24:12] If they think I'm going to vote for hundreds of billions of dollars for an unauthorized [24:16] war, a war they didn't come to Congress for a war, they haven't given an explanation to [24:20] the American people for what we're doing and not doing, how it's going to end, how we're [24:25] protecting our service members. [24:26] And on top of that, the House Republicans gave DOD one hundred and fifty billion dollar [24:32] slush fund last summer as part of Donald Trump's big, ugly bill. [24:37] And on top of that, they say they're going to come and ask for a one and a half trillion [24:41] dollar defense budget. [24:42] And the Department of Defense to this day can't pass an audit. [24:46] They can't tell us where all their stuff is, where they're spending all their money. [24:49] So I'm not about to throw money at a DOD that can't pass an audit is sitting on money that [24:53] they already haven't accounted for and haven't spent and to perpetuate an unauthorized war [24:59] that is not in America's interest. [25:01] I know you're a veteran, but you know that the accusation will be made that Democrats [25:05] just don't support the troops there. [25:07] There is, of course, that's what they're going to say, but there is plenty of money within [25:10] DOD. [25:12] There is plenty of money for troops, for barracks. [25:14] I have guaranteed that I sit on the Armed Services Committee and I will continue to [25:18] push forward and vote to make sure our troops, our military is taken care of, that we have [25:23] the military that we need to protect America. [25:27] What I'm not going to do is just throw money at the Iran war, which they're now admitting [25:32] is a war. [25:34] This cannot continue. [25:36] We spent 20 years in Iraq and Afghanistan, trillions of dollars. [25:40] It ends here. [25:42] It must end here. [25:44] Tell me, though, as a Democrat, because Congress is scheduled to go on vacation soon, a lot [25:49] of TSA agents aren't receiving paychecks because of this Democratic-led funding shutdown because [25:54] of a demand to change immigration policy, something the White House has not made any [25:58] concessions on that I know of to date. [26:00] This is in the Senate. [26:01] But as a Democrat, I mean, look at Denver Airport near your district. [26:05] They're asking people to donate gift cards for TSA agents to make ends meet. [26:10] The airport says, you know, this is a huge job. [26:12] This is a huge generator in terms of what the airport does for the region. [26:15] This is hurting your community. [26:17] How do you continue to defend the shutdown? [26:20] I'm going to be really clear that this is a Republican shutdown. [26:24] Full stop. [26:25] Republicans said that funded all. [26:26] Right? [26:27] Just yesterday, just yesterday, the U.S. Senate held a vote, and Senate Democrats put up an [26:31] authorization to fund everything except for ICE and CBP. [26:35] That's Coast Guard, that's TSA, that's cybersecurity. [26:39] Every single Senate Republican voted against it. [26:42] In the House, we actually have a bill, Rosa DeLauro and Hakeem Jeffries, we have a clean [26:47] bill that would force a vote to open up everything, to fund everything, except for ICE and CBP. [26:54] Republicans are stopping it. [26:55] They're not even allowing a vote on that bill. [26:58] So we are ready to go. [26:59] They are in control of every facet of government. [27:00] But in the meantime, these people are left stuck. [27:04] We're about to be in spring break, heavy traffic season. [27:06] They are in control of every element of government. [27:09] They're in control of what we vote for and don't vote for. [27:11] We are saying. [27:12] Let's open it back up. [27:14] Let's fund Coast Guard, let's fund FEMA, let's fund TSA, let's fund cybersecurity, which, [27:20] by the way, we need because we just started a war with Iran, which has a huge cyber capability. [27:26] We want to fund it. [27:28] We're ready to fund it. [27:29] We will take the votes tomorrow. [27:30] They're stopping that vote. [27:32] They own this shutdown. [27:33] Congressman Krupp, thank you very much for your time today. [27:36] We'll be right back. [27:41] The U.N. [27:42] Nuclear Watchdog Agency, the IAEA, says it has not detected any cyber attacks against [27:46] any raised levels of radiation around nuclear sites that have been targeted by strikes [27:51] in Israel and in Iran. [27:53] On Thursday, we spoke with the head of that agency and began by asking him whether Iran's [27:57] nuclear ambitions can be destroyed through military action. [28:03] Well, of course, there has already been a lot of damage done. [28:08] Last year, 12 day war was in that sense quite effective. [28:14] This time around. [28:15] I think the focus. [28:16] I think the focus. [28:17] Of the campaign does not seem to be specifically the nuclear facilities, although there have [28:25] been some hits in Natanz and Isfahan and also at another place near Parchin, which used [28:34] to be a facility more related to the weaponization efforts, but back in the early 2000s. [28:40] So there has been some, but I would say they have been relatively marginal when you consider [28:47] the overall nature of the military campaign so far. [28:52] So going back to your question, there has been a lot of impact on the program. [29:00] One cannot deny that this has really rolled back the program considerably. [29:06] But my impression is that once the the military effort comes to an end, we will still inherit [29:16] a. [29:18] A number of major issues that have been at the center of all of this one, most notably [29:26] the inventory of unreached uranium at 60%, which is very close to the degree you need [29:33] to make a bomb that is going to still be where it is largely. [29:40] Under the rubble. [29:41] Under the rubble. [29:42] And in some cases, no rubble and some somewhere under. [29:46] And also. [29:47] Yes. [29:48] And also, importantly, some facilities, infrastructure, equipment, which have most probably survived [30:00] some of the attacks, even if they could be damaged, seriously damaged. [30:08] But that is something that we will only be able to ascertain once our inspectors go back. [30:14] So. [30:15] Let's talk about that. [30:16] What I heard you say. [30:17] What I hear is Iran had that nuclear weapons program that in 2003, according to U.S. intelligence, [30:23] was halted. [30:25] But as you know, there's this debate over whether Iran's nuclear program actually did [30:30] have a weapons ambition. [30:33] You were never quite able to say yes or no. [30:36] Well, because we are we are not analysts or people having opinions. [30:43] We are the IAEA. [30:45] So whenever we say something, it has to be based on actual evidence. [30:49] Yes. [30:49] And it's not just the inspection. [30:50] And the thing is and continues to be one. [30:52] Yes. [30:53] Like you say. [30:55] Yes. [30:56] We haven't seen a systematic program like the Amad plan with offices, people reporting [31:01] to people and an array of places where you are doing stuff. [31:07] But there were many, many concerning things, many unanswered questions, and especially [31:13] since 2019, 2020, when I became more or less when I became director general. [31:18] Were. [31:19] Yes. [31:20] But in 2015, in 2016, when the JCPOA, the previous agreement, you remember the Obama [31:26] era. [31:27] Exactly. [31:28] When that started to be applied, Iran was complying with a number of things. [31:35] But we started seeing new stuff. [31:38] We started seeing and getting new elements that gave rise to concerns. [31:45] And we were talking about them with Iran. [31:47] And then it came a point. [31:48] Very important point. [31:51] When I said, you know, in view of this, I have to say that I'm no longer able, I'm no [31:59] longer able to say that everything is in order. [32:04] Because you were finding uranium in places it wasn't supposed to be because they weren't [32:08] allowing you unfettered access. [32:09] You couldn't say clearly one way or the other. [32:12] Exactly that. [32:13] So let's come back to that. [32:15] According to what you did know and did, were able to declare in these IAEA reports. [32:20] Iran had uranium enriched up to 60 percent, weapons grade is 90, as I understand it. [32:25] Yeah. [32:26] And if that material remains now in Iran after combat ends, will it still have nuclear capabilities, [32:35] if it has the enriched material and the centrifuges? [32:38] Well, you remember, and for this, I would quote or partially refer to things that have [32:45] been said in Iran by Iranians. [32:48] You remember very important officials. [32:50] We have all the elements of the puzzle. [32:53] So when this is said, we were telling them this is unhelpful, or at least you should [33:00] explain what is meant by that. [33:04] It's a vast program, right? [33:09] And so, albeit the physical distraction that has been operated, acted upon these facilities, [33:19] there's a lot going on. [33:21] And that's something, Margaret. [33:23] When we talk about centrifuges, when we talk about these kind of facilities, this is an [33:29] activity that can be relatively, I wouldn't say easily, but it is very possible to reconstruct [33:35] this effort. [33:36] It's methodology. [33:37] Yeah. [33:38] It's a sophisticated washing machine. [33:40] It's nothing, I mean, and you cannot unlearn what you've learned. [33:44] Right. [33:45] You can't bomb away the knowledge. [33:46] So that capability will exist after combat ends. [33:48] Exactly. [33:49] And it was very sophisticated. [33:50] Let's not forget. [33:51] And again, referring back to JCPOA, JCPOA was based or predicated upon a very primitive [34:00] type of centrifuge. [34:02] Now Iran has the most sophisticated, fast and efficient machine that exists. [34:11] And they know how to make that. [34:12] They know. [34:13] And on top of that, there may be places out there which are not nuclear places. [34:20] This is why. [34:21] And what I say is that we still need to find a framework, an agreed framework that is going [34:31] to be providing us with the necessary provisibility and sense of a clear idea of where they are, [34:40] where they want to go. [34:42] Because this war will not destroy Iran's nuclear ambitions and capabilities. [34:45] Any war. [34:46] I would say any war. [34:47] Any war. [34:48] Unless it was nuclear war. [34:49] And you go for destruction in a nuclear war. [34:50] Yeah. [34:51] Yeah. [34:52] In an unfathomable way, which we hope, of course, will never be the case. [34:57] Well, talk to me about the options that we know are being discussed by the United States [35:01] right now, including President Trump and Israel have talked about the potential of sending [35:05] special forces in to secure some of this enriched material. [35:09] You have been to Isfahan. [35:11] You have seen some of the underground facilities. [35:14] How difficult would it be to move these cylinders that are there full of chemicals? [35:18] We're talking about cylinders containing gas. [35:22] Of highly contaminated uranium hexafluoride at 60 percent. [35:30] So it's very difficult to handle. [35:32] So much so that, for example, in terms of this negotiation, we might perhaps discuss [35:37] that a little bit. [35:38] That did not bear fruit. [35:41] One of the things that we were discussing was down blending it because of its difficulty [35:46] in terms of handling in the scenario, for example, of a ship out of the material. [35:49] Yeah. [35:50] Yeah. [35:51] Yeah. [35:52] And as soon as it is out of the material, exfiltrating the material. [35:54] So it is very difficult. [35:55] Then, of course, I guess there will be a number of decoys, a number of distracting cylinders, [36:06] materials over there, which would make it very difficult. [36:10] I'm not saying it's impossible. [36:11] I know that here there are incredible military capacities to do that, but it would be a very [36:18] challenging operation for sure. [36:20] For special, for military? [36:21] Yeah. [36:22] operation to be carried out. Let me just ask you about one other thing. You said about half the [36:28] nuclear material was around Isfahan. Well, it's a little bit more. But the majority of the material [36:36] is there. And this is not a secret because I've seen a lot of hype about it. This has been in [36:41] our reports. The vast majority is there. There's some in Natanz as well and some other parts. [36:48] There is focus on these other undeclared facilities President Trump has brought up. [36:52] There's a facility called Pickaxe Mountain, for example, that comes up. Are you concerned [36:57] about those other things? Well, we should visit those. They were not operational. [37:02] So this is why we hadn't. You may remember that on the eve of the June 2025 campaign, [37:09] Iran announced that they had a new enrichment facility in Isfahan. On the same day, [37:16] I issued a request. [37:18] I issued a request for an urgent inspection, which was granted. And the inspectors were there [37:23] in the morning or the late night when the attacks happened. So we never got to see the place. We [37:33] will have to go there eventually. Final thought here. Do you think President Trump supports what [37:41] I heard you say, which is that a military campaign cannot destroy Iran's nuclear program and that the [37:48] only way to... [37:49] understand what they're really doing is to be on the ground inspecting it. And that can't be done by [37:56] the United States military fully either. Well, I think, I don't know whether he would endorse this [38:03] or not, but he has said also that, of course, diplomacy is the preferred option. I think that [38:09] is encouraging. And we have had a very constructive conversation in the past and now. [38:18] Have you spoken to him? [38:19] Not to the president, no. [38:21] I haven't had the honor. But I was talking to people that I had been talking in the past. And we [38:26] continue. We continue this effort. I think the essence of this is that in the bleakest hour, we [38:34] should never lose hope. You can see our extended conversations on our website and on our YouTube [38:40] channel. We'll be back in a moment. We turn now to our new CBS poll with Executive Director of [38:49] Elections and Surveys, Anthony Salvato. Anthony, good to have you here. [38:53] Good morning. [38:53] So as we were discussing earlier with you, an ambassador, [38:56] Waltz, the American people, they're just not sold on this war. Their skepticism is growing. Why? [39:03] So to evaluate a war, you need to know what the goals are, what you're comparing against. [39:08] And the American people increasingly feel like they haven't gotten a clear explanation [39:11] from the administration. So against that backdrop, I asked them, OK, what do you think it's important [39:17] for the U.S. to be doing? The top answer was to have a quick and successful war. But beyond that, [39:24] majority say they want to see a war. And I think that's a good thing. I think that's a good thing. [39:25] I think that's a good thing. I think that's a good thing. I think that's a good thing. I think that's a good thing. [39:26] They'd like to see the nuclear program in Iran stopped permanently. They'd like to see the [39:30] Iranian people be safe and free. And really importantly, for a majority, it would not be [39:37] acceptable for them to see the war end with the regime still in power. Now, all those things might [39:43] be incompatible with a quick war. And it wouldn't be the first time the public asked for a wide [39:48] range of things. There's still a collective uncertainty about whether or not the U.S. [39:52] would need to have boots on the ground, sending ground troops. [39:55] But this is important about duration of this. There's still a lot of people who think this may [40:00] take months, may take years. And what that goes to is approval. The longer you think this will last, [40:08] the more disapproving of it you are. That all ties up in the uncertainty, too. [40:13] That's the overseas picture. Here at home, the most measurable thing seems to be the price at [40:18] the gas pump. How are people feeling about the economy? They have noticed the increase in gas [40:23] prices. Of course. [40:24] Big, big. [40:25] Number, see, now they've gone up. But it's the impact, more broadly, on the economy. They think [40:31] the war is having both a short-term impact on gas prices and weakening the economy. But also, [40:37] I asked about the long term, because you hear the argument out there, well, it'll just take [40:41] patience and let's ride this out. But even in the long term, folks are not convinced that there's [40:47] going to be an improvement in the economy and also that larger increase in gas prices. [40:53] The other part of this, too, is, [40:55] we see this as a war of choice as opposed to necessity. And what that does is it comes back [41:02] to this, are you willing to have patience? Right now, at least as far as gas prices are concerned, [41:08] most people say they don't think Americans should be willing to pay higher prices for it. [41:13] Anthony Salvato, thank you. [41:15] Thanks. [41:16] We'll be right back. [41:20] There are at least four Americans currently detained in Iran, and two of them, Reza Valizadeh [41:26] and Kamran Hekmati, have been designated by the U.S. [41:29] government as wrongfully detained. Last week, we spoke with two men who have shared that [41:34] experience of being held hostage in Iran, Siamak Namazi and Imad Shargi. We also spoke with Neda [41:42] Shargi, Imad's sister, who is now helping families of other wrongful detainees. Here's some of that [41:47] conversation. For the American people, what do you want them to know, Neda, about both the Americans [41:54] who were held and the Iranians and the Iranian Americans who are back? [41:59] Well, you know, I'm not an analyst. I can give you a little bit about my own lived experience. [42:07] You know, I was born in Iran, and I left with my family during the revolution in 1979 with my [42:12] parents and Imad. I am an American now, but, you know, my country of birth is still very much in [42:22] my heart. And there are people in Iran who all they want is freedom and peace. And, you know, [42:32] they, you know, it's tough because here I am trying to advocate for Americans there, but I want [42:40] freedom for everyone. And I want people of Iran to find liberation just as much. I do want to say [42:47] that, sort of to Roger's point, what happens with our American hostages, whether they're in Iran or [42:54] in Venezuela, is that they always become a hostage to other bigger, broader political issues. And I [43:02] wish that... [43:04] You know, Envoy Witkoff had, sort of, before he started engaging with the Iranians, had said, [43:09] we will not talk to you until there's an unconditional release of our Americans. I'm [43:15] not sure if that was asked or not. But here we are again, you know, these Americans who are [43:20] innocent are again tied to this issue that's, you know, out of their control. So I want Americans [43:31] to know that, you know, Kamran and Reza are just ordinary Americans. And I want them to know that [43:35] these Americans who were there, sort of, to take care of family, and they've been caught in this [43:39] big issue. And we need to, we need to convince our government to separate them from what's going on [43:46] and find a creative solution, like we did to get Emad and Siamak home. Find a creative solution [43:54] to bring them home. [43:54] I wonder what you, but the two of you in particular, would say to President Trump at a [44:01] moment like this. [44:03] What I would tell the president is he has such a [44:09] great record of getting Americans home from all over the world. I don't think any other president [44:16] has managed to do what he has done in the first hundred days. And I'm confident that if he is [44:24] aware that there are Americans sitting in prison, that he is going to instruct people around him to [44:32] put that on the agenda. So I think it's important that he hears that, that there are innocent [44:41] Americans being held like we were. [44:44] And I think, it's critical that he hears that, that there are innocent Americans being held as political pawns. [44:46] Siamak? [44:48] I completely agree with Emad. And I can't imagine if President Trump knew their names and knew these cases, [44:56] they wouldn't be one of the priorities. I would say that it is unfortunate that they weren't, priority was not [45:05] given to them before. But as I said, I personally think that there will be a time soon because all [45:14] wars end with some form of diplomacy. So I would implore President Trump to make sure [45:20] that part of those negotiations that will be coming up [45:24] is bringing our people home. [45:26] That full conversation's on our website and YouTube page. [45:29] And a quick note on the debate over DHS funding. [45:31] The White House sent a letter to Congress last week [45:33] outlining some concessions they are willing to make. [45:37] Thanks for watching. [45:38] I'm Margaret Brennan.