By Gloria Ogbonna
On this week’s broadcast of Fox News Sunday, Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) argued that the escalating tensions with Iran have been worsened by decisions made by President Donald Trump, particularly his withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear agreement.
Reed contended that the United States is now operating with significantly reduced visibility into Iran’s nuclear program following Trump’s decision to exit the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). According to Reed, that move eliminated monitoring mechanisms and constraints that had previously limited Iran’s nuclear activities.
“We’re in a situation now because of Trump’s discarding the JCPOA where we have no real detailed insights into their nuclear program,” Reed said. “They now have significantly more enriched nuclear material.”
He explained that estimates suggest Iran could potentially be within nine to twelve months of developing a nuclear weapon if it made that decision — though he noted that Iran has not officially committed to building one. Still, Reed emphasized that controlling Iran’s nuclear ambitions remains critical to U.S. national security and global stability.
“We had controls in place. We could build on those controls. Trump took them away,” Reed argued. “We’re in a much more difficult position.”
Reed further criticized what he described as a unilateral escalation of hostilities involving the United States and Israel, saying the situation has given Iran new leverage on the world stage. In particular, he pointed to Iran’s strategic influence over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global oil shipments.
“They’re now holding the whole world by the oil,” Reed said, referencing Iran’s demonstrated ability to disrupt or threaten shipping traffic through the strait. “They have leverage worldwide now.”
According to Reed, the current crisis reflects a chain reaction triggered by abandoning diplomatic frameworks without replacing them with an equally effective strategy. He suggested that the administration now faces a complex diplomatic maze with no clear or immediate solution.
“And now he’s floundering around trying to figure out a way to get out of it,” Reed said of Trump. “There’s no obvious way.”
Host Shannon Bream pressed Reed on whether he would credit Trump if long-term outcomes ultimately favor U.S. interests — specifically, if the Strait of Hormuz is reopened, Iran is effectively prevented from obtaining a nuclear weapon, and global oil prices stabilize.
“Well, long term, if the strait is reopened, Iran is disabled from getting a nuclear weapon, oil prices drop — will you give credit to this president if that comes together?” Bream asked.
Reed responded that while he hopes for a successful outcome, the diplomatic reality is far more complicated.
“Long-term, I hope it comes together, frankly, because it’s in the interest of the United States and the whole world,” he said. “But in order to negotiate an agreement, we have to give something to get something.”
He emphasized that negotiations inherently require concessions from both sides — raising questions about what Washington would be willing to offer and what Tehran would accept.
Reed argued that Iran may now be negotiating from a position of relative strength compared to previous months. He cited several factors: a hardened political leadership more resistant to compromise, increased leverage due to control over oil transit routes, and fortified nuclear facilities that are reportedly more difficult to disable or destroy.
“The regime is much more militant, hardened, and committed to resisting,” Reed said. “They’ve demonstrated they can choke off oil coming out of the Strait of Hormuz. They have leverage worldwide now.”
He added that Iran is unlikely to willingly abandon its nuclear capabilities without meaningful incentives.
“I don’t think they’re going to just gladly give up their nuclear potential,” Reed said.
While acknowledging that returning to the JCPOA in its original form may no longer be feasible, Reed suggested that restoring similar constraints would represent a significant diplomatic achievement.
“If we could get back the JCPOA — and I don’t think we can — that would be a huge success for the president,” he said.
Reed’s comments reflect a broader debate in Washington over whether abandoning the 2015 agreement strengthened or weakened U.S. leverage. Supporters of Trump argue that maximum pressure was necessary to counter Iranian aggression, while critics like Reed maintain that scrapping the deal removed guardrails without securing a viable replacement.
As tensions persist and negotiations remain uncertain, Reed underscored the high stakes involved — not only for the United States and Iran, but for global energy markets and geopolitical stability.
Source Breitbart
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