By Gloria Ogbonna
During an appearance Monday on CNN’s The Lead, former National Security Adviser John Bolton sharply criticized the Trump administration’s ongoing negotiations aimed at ending military operations involving Iran. Bolton argued that the diplomatic talks were giving Iran valuable time to recover and rebuild after suffering heavy damage during weeks of Israeli military strikes.
Speaking with CNN host Pamela Brown, Bolton said he hopes the negotiations ultimately collapse, claiming every additional day of talks benefits Iran strategically.
Bolton argued that the pause in military pressure allows Iran more time to recover from what he described as severe setbacks caused by six weeks of Israeli attacks. According to him, the negotiations are delaying what he called a necessary “day of reckoning” and weakening the progress already made against Iran’s military and political structure.
He also claimed Iran’s government appears increasingly unstable and dysfunctional, saying the ongoing talks provide Tehran with breathing room to reorganize its leadership and decision-making capabilities.
Bolton criticized the ceasefire efforts and suggested that stopping military operations too soon could allow Iran to eventually regain its influence and threaten critical global shipping routes such as the Strait of Hormuz. He argued that the United States and its allies had already inflicted significant damage on the Iranian regime and should not allow those gains to be reversed through diplomacy.
The former national security adviser went even further, warning that history could judge the negotiations as a major strategic mistake for the United States. Bolton said he believes the administration is allowing Iran to slowly recover instead of maintaining pressure that could permanently weaken the regime.
During the interview, Pamela Brown questioned whether Bolton would still consider the negotiations a failure even if Iran agreed to key American demands, including removing enriched uranium from the country.
Bolton responded skeptically, saying the details of the negotiations appear to change frequently and remain unclear. However, he pointed to reports suggesting that decisions regarding Iran’s uranium program may be delayed for at least 60 days — something he believes strongly favors Tehran.
According to Bolton, Iran has historically used extended negotiations to buy time, warning that short delays can easily stretch into months or even longer. He expressed concern that the administration may not be focused primarily on America’s long-term strategic interests.
Bolton also accused President Donald Trump of placing too much emphasis on economic concerns, particularly energy prices and gasoline costs for American consumers. He argued that the administration’s approach is driven more by efforts to lower fuel prices than by broader national security considerations in the Middle East.
The comments add to growing debate among foreign policy experts and political leaders over how the United States should handle tensions with Iran, particularly following recent military escalations and ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at preventing a wider regional conflict.
Source Breitbart
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