Mike Waltz, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, defended President Trump’s stance on Iran’s leadership during an ABC News interview, emphasizing a desire for non-threatening successors.
Desired Iranian Leadership
Waltz echoed Trump’s call for Iranian leaders who won’t attack U.S. interests, allies, civilian sites like airports and ports, hold global energy hostage, or pursue nuclear weapons, framing it as common-sense for deal-making without constant aggression.
War Progress Assessment
Waltz claimed U.S. military objectives are succeeding ahead of schedule, citing degraded Iranian ballistic missile production and elimination of key leaders, positioning the U.S. as “winning” in an America First policy focused on neutralizing threats.
School Bombing Response
Addressing a girls’ elementary school strike in southern Iran on the war’s first day—where U.S. forces operated nearby and may bear responsibility—Waltz deferred to investigators, comparing it to Gaza’s 2023 hospital blast blamed on a misfired Palestinian rocket, while stressing U.S. efforts to minimize civilian casualties unlike adversaries.
