Following the military strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, U.S. officials emphasized the importance of Iran choosing a diplomatic path rather than retaliating. President Donald Trump, flanked by Vice President Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, urged Iran to pursue peace in a late Saturday address to the nation. Trump warned that continued aggression would lead to severe consequences for Iran.
U.S. officials reiterated this message on Sunday, advocating for a diplomatic resolution and cautioning Iran against further military actions. Defense Secretary Hegseth stressed that the U.S. was focused on targeting Iran’s nuclear program specifically, not seeking broader conflict. He emphasized the opportunity for Iran to choose peace and stated that clear messages had been sent to Tehran regarding the path to negotiations.
Hegseth described the military strikes as deliberately limited and aimed at destroying Iranian nuclear capabilities, not instigating regime change. He assured that the offensive had specific targets and was not an open-ended operation. The U.S. was prepared for potential Iranian responses, with Gen. Dan Caine warning that any retaliation would be ill-advised.
The defense secretary highlighted the significant damage inflicted on the targeted facilities and the destruction of Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. President Trump and other officials made it clear that any escalation from Iran would result in more severe U.S. actions. The focus remained on encouraging Iran to opt for peace through diplomatic channels.
Iran has been urged to return to the negotiating table to discuss its nuclear program. The U.S. and Iran had engaged in five rounds of diplomatic talks, with a sixth round planned, before Israel’s recent attack on Iran prompted U.S. military action as well. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that it is irrelevant to ask Iran to resume diplomacy as they were actively engaged in talks before being interrupted by attacks. He highlighted recent discussions with European leaders in Geneva that were disrupted by U.S. actions. Despite the interruption, U.S. Secretary of State Rubio criticized Iran, accusing them of using diplomacy as a delay tactic. He emphasized that the U.S. would not tolerate Iran’s nuclear ambitions, warning that a renewed nuclear program could jeopardize the Iranian regime. Rubio clarified that regime change was not the immediate goal of the U.S. actions, but suggested that Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons could have serious consequences for the regime.
