Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander-in-chief, Ahmad Vahidi, declared Wednesday that Tehran will continue to work on nuclear weapons as long as the United States and Israel possess them, escalating concerns that Iran is leveraging negotiations over the Strait of Hormuz to postpone concessions on its nuclear program.
"As long as the United States and Israel possess nuclear weapons, we will continue working on them for our national security," Vahidi stated, according to a translation of his remarks. "If they disarm, we will disarm."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to Vahidi's statement by vowing that Israel would continue to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, regardless of any diplomatic agreement. "Today, we heard the commander of the Revolutionary Guards, Vahidi, explicitly declare Iran’s intention to continue developing nuclear weapons — ‘continue,’ as he put it," Netanyahu said. "Well, as prime minister of Israel, I too am determined to continue — to continue preventing Iran from possessing nuclear weapons."
Netanyahu expressed appreciation for the joint efforts between Israel and the United States against Iran's nuclear ambitions, calling President Donald Trump "Israel's greatest friend in the White House." He reiterated that "Israel’s existence is not subject to negotiation" and that Israel would do "whatever is necessary to ensure our security and our future."
Experts Urge Focus on Nuclear Program
Nuclear experts are urging President Trump not to allow Iran to steer negotiations away from its nuclear threat. Andrea Stricker, deputy director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies’ Nonproliferation and Biodefense Program, warned that Tehran could use the ongoing discussions about the Strait of Hormuz to secure sanctions relief and other concessions before addressing its nuclear capabilities.
"It is in the Iranians’ interest to steer the negotiations toward the issues that they most care about," Stricker told Fox News Digital, noting that this includes securing concessions over Hormuz and "maintaining control of that crucial waterway that has proven a lifeline for Tehran to survive this war." She added that Iran would likely seek oil sanctions relief, and potentially all U.S. sanctions relief, before dealing with its nuclear program.
"If Tehran is able to structure the talks that way, and I’m concerned that Trump appears to be going along with that approach, there may be little left in terms of leverage to get big concessions from the Iranians on the nuclear file down the line," Stricker said. Evidence suggests Iran has sought to sequence the talks in its favor, with reports indicating proposals to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the war before beginning nuclear negotiations, potentially diminishing U.S. leverage.
Kelsey Davenport, director for nonproliferation policy at the Arms Control Association, agreed that Iran is seeking to capitalize on the leverage gained by disrupting maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. "The current focus on the Straits of Hormuz is not surprising. Iran is looking to capitalize on leverage gained by disrupting maritime traffic through the waterway and test if Trump is willing to negotiate in good faith," Davenport said.
Trump's Stance and Iran's Nuclear Capabilities
President Trump told "Fox News at Night" that military force remains an option if Iran abandons the talks, but emphasized that Tehran cannot be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon. "If they back out again, they’re going to get hit really hard," Trump stated. "They know that. They understand that. I have no choice. They can’t have a nuclear weapon. It’s very simple."
Trump described the ongoing negotiations as "very good," indicating that the talks would initially focus on reopening the Strait of Hormuz before turning to Iran’s nuclear program. Nuclear experts, however, expressed concern over this sequencing.
Stricker noted that postponing nuclear issues could allow Iran to preserve its enriched-uranium stockpiles and avoid dismantling its nuclear infrastructure. She also highlighted that Iran aims to avoid accounting for its past nuclear weapons-related work or committing to end uranium enrichment and plutonium reprocessing.
Davenport added that even if Iran does not resume proliferation-sensitive activities, "At the end of this conflict, Iran will still possess the capabilities necessary to build a bomb." She cautioned that "The relevant knowledge and nuclear expertise cannot be bombed away," and that Tehran retains key materials and technologies necessary for bomb construction. "If left unchecked, the nuclear program will be a source of instability and renewed conflict, even if Iran does not resume more proliferation-sensitive nuclear activities."
Recommendations for Negotiations
Both Stricker and Davenport offered recommendations for the ongoing negotiations. Davenport suggested prioritizing the restoration of access for International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors to key Iranian nuclear sites, which have not been visited in over a year. Renewed inspections, she argued, would provide a clearer picture of Iran’s remaining facilities and materials, aiding negotiators in designing a verification regime.
Davenport also recommended pairing sanctions relief with specific, verifiable Iranian steps rather than negotiating a single, sweeping package. "A series of smaller deals could build confidence in the process," she said.
Stricker urged the administration to link any concessions regarding Hormuz, sanctions, or the U.S. blockade to measurable Iranian steps on the nuclear file. "The best approach to ensure a solid deal is to make the nuclear issues just as important as the Strait of Hormuz, removing the blockade and other top Iranian priorities," she stated.