Waltz on threat to destroy Iranian infrastructure: ‘All options are on the table’

[0:00] Let's bring in the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, for the latest from the Trump [0:05] administration on this. Certainly a consequential morning here, Mr. Ambassador. These talks are [0:12] going to be tomorrow night in Islamabad. Who's going to be leading the U.S. delegation? [0:19] Well, as the president announced, the vice president with our key negotiators looks like they [0:25] are going to head out for another round. And I have to remind everyone, these are the highest [0:30] level engagements between the United States and the Iranian regime in the 47 years since it [0:39] first came to power and, of course, took 66 Americans hostage. So it's incredibly significant, [0:45] as is the first high-level direct engagement between the Israelis and the Lebanese governments [0:54] for the first time in decades. So I don't think anyone can say President [1:00] Trump isn't putting diplomacy first. Of course, that is backed by significant and very real and [1:07] very capable military power. [1:09] That ceasefire expires on Wednesday. Will it be extended if there isn't a final deal coming [1:14] out of these talks? [1:17] Well, that's ultimately a decision for the president, but I think the outcome of these [1:21] talks will be incredibly consequential. And as the president has stated, he is prepared to [1:28] escalate to de-escalate. He is prepared to actually board and turn around Iranian ships, even [1:35] as far east as the Pacific Ocean. Secretary Besson, our Treasury Secretary, announced Operation [1:43] Economic Fury, where we're taking additional economic measures to continue the maximum pressure [1:50] campaign against the Iranian economy, which is an absolute freefall in terms of its currency, [1:56] its foreign currency reserves, its ability to perform basic functions. [2:02] And, of course, we have a full-court press here at the United Nations, where we're seeing our [2:07] Gulf Arab allies, in particular, truly united, pushing forth the resolution that a U.N. record, [2:15] 135 nations, joined us in condemning Iran's attacks on ports, airports, civilian infrastructure, [2:25] even neighborhoods, to the tunes of thousands of missiles of drones in civilian infrastructure. [2:30] So Iran's never been more isolated. Its economy is in freefall. It truly has no cards. [2:36] And the president's objectives and red lines have been very clear. It cannot and will not ever have [2:43] a nuclear weapon. [2:44] So the Iranians said they were reopening the Strait of Hormuz. It's not reopened. [2:49] And we saw them firing on two Indian ships. What makes you think you can trust the Iranians, [2:57] even if you can arrive at a deal coming out of these meetings? What makes you think you can [3:01] trust them to abide by it? [3:05] Well, the Iranian command and control and government is in absolute disarray because of the [3:11] devastating attacks across its leadership. You're right. You heard the Iranian foreign [3:17] minister say it's open, and then the IRGC step in and say, no, it's closed. Regardless, it's the [3:24] blockade, the U.S. Navy, and President Trump who's ultimately deciding what gets in and out. [3:30] So he has completely turned the tables on Iran's attempt to hold the entire world's economies [3:38] hostage, on its attempt to punish the world as a result of this dispute over its nuclear program. [3:45] But to your point, I promise you, I assure you, the United States doesn't trust anything. [3:53] Any agreement that comes out will have to be verifiable and enforceable. [3:58] And back to my position here in the United Nations, the International Atomic Energy Agency, [4:03] the IAEA and its nuclear inspectors, I'm confident will be a key part of whatever's resolved. [4:09] And if they don't agree, is the president really prepared to go back to full-on war, [4:15] extending this war well beyond what he originally said it was going to be four, five, maybe six weeks? [4:20] We're now going into week eight. Is he prepared to do what he threatened here? He said, [4:25] destroy every power plant and every bridge in the country, full-on, in-depth war extended in the Middle East. [4:33] He's ready for that? [4:36] Well, all options are on the table, absolutely. Unlike his predecessor, President Trump doesn't [4:41] publicly take options off the table and tell our adversaries what he's not going to do, [4:46] therefore giving them leverage. So all options are on the table. We could take that infrastructure out [4:53] relatively easily. The Iranian air defenses have been absolutely decimated. And just to get ahead [4:59] of a lot of the critics and hand-wringing, throwing out irresponsible terms like war crimes, [5:04] attacking, destroying infrastructure that has clearly and historically been used for dual [5:11] military purposes is not a war crime. I mean, we've heard that from Democratic lawmakers. [5:17] We've heard that from others. And it is irresponsible and just flat wrong. [5:22] But, Mr. Ambassador, let me be clear. The president today said that he would knock out every single [5:28] power plant and every single bridge in Iran. He's not just talking about those that are supporting [5:34] the military infrastructure. He is saying every bridge and every power plant in the country, [5:38] that wouldn't be a war crime? That would be an escalatory ladder. And if you go back in the history of [5:47] warfare, go all the way back to World War II, of course we bombed and took down bridges, other [5:54] infrastructure, power plants that, yes, could be used for civilian, but also are used to [5:59] manufacture drones and missiles. So, and the Iranian regime in particular and its terrorist [6:05] proxies have a long history of actually deliberately hiding military infrastructure in hospitals, [6:11] schools, neighborhoods, and other civilian assets. So they are standing on, they have no ground [6:19] to stand on, number one. Number two, they have a long history of commingling. Number three, [6:24] it's perfectly acceptable in the rules of land warfare. And number four, the Iranian regime is [6:30] launching drones and missiles directly into civilian homes, hotels, and resorts across the Gulf. [6:36] So this is just a ridiculous argument we've heard in the media and from the Iranians and, frankly, [6:44] from some lawmakers here at home. [6:46] I mean, again, hitting every single bridge, every single power plant in the country goes beyond [6:51] simply those that support the military infrastructure. Thank you very much, Ambassador [6:56] Waltz. I appreciate your time this morning. [6:58] Thank you. And an important clarification. I just got off the phone with President Trump. Yet again, [7:06] he told me that Vice President Vance will not be leading the U.S. delegation to Islamabad. He said [7:12] it's because of security. The Secret Service did not feel comfortable having the Vice President go to [7:18] Pakistan on 24 hours notice. It's he's added JD is great.