U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan speaks during a press conference in Tel Aviv, Israel, on December 12, 2024.
Abir Sultan | Reuters
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Sunday that the Biden administration is concerned that a weakened Iran could decide to build a nuclear weapon, adding that he was briefing the president-elect on the situation Donald Trump’s Team risk.
Iran’s regional influence has suffered setbacks following Israeli attacks on its allies Hamas in Palestine and Hezbollah in Lebanon and the fall of Iranian-aligned Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Tehran’s “conventional capabilities” have also been weakened, Sullivan told CNN, referring to recent Israeli attacks on Iranian facilities, including missile factories and air defense systems.
“It’s no wonder there are people[in Iran]saying ‘Hey, maybe we need to develop nuclear weapons now… maybe we have to revisit our nuclear doctrine,'” Sullivan told CNN.
Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, but it has expanded uranium enrichment since Trump withdrew from a deal between Iran and world powers aimed at curbing Tehran’s nuclear ambitions during his first term.
Sullivan said there was now a “real risk” that Iran would change its stance that “we will not develop nuclear weapons.”
“We are trying to remain vigilant about this risk right now. I am personally briefing the incoming team on this risk,” Sullivan said, adding that he had also consulted with U.S. ally Israel on the issue.
Trump, who took office on January 20, is likely to tighten sanctions on Iran’s oil industry, although critics believe diplomacy is a more effective long-term policy and call for a return to negotiations.
