Former national security adviser John Bolton warned that President Donald Trump’s handling of the Iran conflict could destabilize the Middle East and increase the risk of a regional nuclear arms race.
Iran Nuclear Warning Sparks Arms Race Fears
On Sunday, in an opinion piece for The Wall Street Journal, Bolton wrote that “whatever deal President Trump makes with Iran, his often-contradictory decisions during the conflict have laid the groundwork for more nuclear proliferation in the Middle East.”
He warned that “if the race for nuclear weapons widens and accelerates, the region will become more unstable, heightening risks for the entire world.”
Bolton argued that Gulf Arab states and other regional players are increasingly questioning U.S. reliability as a security guarantor, potentially forcing them to consider developing nuclear capabilities as a hedge against Iran.
Trump, meanwhile, has pushed for a negotiated resolution but has resisted pressure for a rapid agreement on Iran’s nuclear program.
In an NBC interview on Friday, Trump said Iran remained resistant to ending the conflict because of national pride, but insisted they would ultimately have “no choice” but to reach a deal.
“They’re strong, they’re proud,” Trump said, adding that Iran would be forced into concessions it “never thought they’d be doing.”
The conflict, now in its third month, has included missile exchanges involving Iran and Israel, further escalating regional tensions.
US–Iran Nuclear Talks
In May, President Trump described Iran as “crafty” but insisted the U.S. held leverage in talks, while Vice President JD Vance said enrichment remained the central unresolved issue.
Proposed terms included a ceasefire extension, Strait of Hormuz access and renewed nuclear negotiations, though uncertainty persisted over Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile.
Tensions at times escalated alongside military action, including “defensive strikes” in southern Iran, while both sides maintained opposing positions on whether Iran’s nuclear program was peaceful.
Last week, French President Emmanuel Macron also urged urgent diplomacy after meeting regional leaders.
He said it was “essential” that a U.S.–Iran agreement be reached quickly and warned that “this opportunity must be seized now” to prevent further regional instability.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Image via Shutterstock/ Christopher Halloran
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