U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated on Wednesday that President-elect Donald Trump has a potential opportunity to negotiate with Iran, emphasizing that the development of a nuclear weapon by Tehran is not inevitable. Speaking at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, Blinken acknowledged Iran’s increasing consideration of nuclear options after military losses in the region.
“I don’t think that a nuclear weapon is inevitable,” Blinken said. He explained that recent setbacks—including Israeli strikes on Iranian air defenses, Hezbollah’s weakening, and the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s control in Syria—have strained Iran’s defensive strategies. “As they’ve lost different lines of defense, sure, you’re going to see more thinking about that,” he added.
Despite these concerns, Blinken noted that Iran understands the consequences of acquiring a nuclear weapon and expressed optimism about potential negotiations. “I think there is the prospect of negotiations,” he said.
Iran continues to deny intentions of pursuing nuclear weapons, maintaining that its nuclear activities are for peaceful purposes. However, Blinken reiterated that no U.S. administration would tolerate a nuclear-armed Iran. “One way or another, I’m convinced that just as our administration had that policy, the next administration will too,” he affirmed.
During Trump’s first term, the United States withdrew from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal brokered under President Barack Obama, opting instead for sweeping sanctions. Blinken referred to Trump’s rationale for withdrawing, quoting Trump’s desire for “a better, stronger deal.”
The Biden administration initially attempted to revive the 2015 deal through indirect talks, but negotiations stalled over disagreements on sanctions relief. Since the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Hamas—an organization supported by Iran—the Biden administration has maintained pressure on Tehran.
Reports indicate that Trump ally Elon Musk recently met with an Iranian official after the U.S. election, in a move believed to promote peace amidst rising tensions.
