In a recent appearance on the New York Post's new podcast Pod Force One, President Donald Trump expressed declining confidence in reaching a diplomatic deal with Iran. He suggested that delays and changes in circumstances over the past two months have made him pessimistic, hinting that if diplomacy fails, military action could be a last resort.
The commentator warns that such action would be unconstitutional without Congressional approval, citing the U.S. Constitution and the War Powers Act of 1973, which limit the president’s authority to launch military attacks unless the U.S. is directly attacked or Congress authorizes it.
The discussion criticizes the idea of attacking Iran, emphasizing that:
Iran does not currently have nuclear weapons and claims not to be pursuing them.
The Director of National Intelligence (DNI) confirmed no evidence of an Iranian nuclear weapons program.
While Iran has increased uranium enrichment to 60%, this is still below weapons-grade (90%).
Any attack would not only be unlawful but also unnecessary and counterproductive.
The speaker also underscores that Iran is not an imminent threat to the U.S., arguing its actions are driven by regime survival, not aggression. The real pressure, they claim, is coming from Israel, which sees Iran as a threat and has taken repeated aggressive actions against it. However, the U.S. should not be drawn into conflict on Israel’s behalf.
Trump's earlier rhetoric in March and April 2025 indicated he was nearing a decision—possibly peace or war. His envoy, Steve Witkoff, had optimistic meetings with Iranian representatives, and talks focused on limiting uranium enrichment. However, recent developments appear to have stalled progress, reviving Trump's hawkish tone.
In conclusion, the commentary urges restraint, constitutional adherence, and avoiding unnecessary conflict, noting that Iran lacks the military-industrial capacity to sustain a war and does not want one.
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