US envoy to UN: Washington preparing for prolonged standoff with Iran

US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz has said that Washington is preparing for a prolonged standoff with Iran, with the current deadlock over Tehran's nuclear program and maritime navigation in the Strait of Hormuz potentially lasting another year without a breakthrough, according to an interview with the Financial Times.

Waltz emphasized that eliminating Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched nuclear material remains a strategic objective for the United States, noting that current plans focus on tightening economic sanctions to deprive the Iranian regime of vital financial resources.

Regarding the blockade imposed on Iranian ports, the US ambassador stated that the US president and Navy are capable of maintaining it, while simultaneously increasing economic pressure on Tehran.

Waltz also indicated that the stalemate could persist for another year of conflict without a nuclear agreement or a return of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz to previous levels, reflecting Washington’s readiness for a potentially extended confrontation with Iran.