US Insists on ‘Full Dismantlement’ of Iran's Nuclear Program

White House national security adviser Mike Waltz gestures to Fox News host and President Donald Trump's daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, after speaking with her at the White House in Washington, Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
White House national security adviser Mike Waltz gestures to Fox News host and President Donald Trump's daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, after speaking with her at the White House in Washington, Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
TT
20

US Insists on ‘Full Dismantlement’ of Iran's Nuclear Program

White House national security adviser Mike Waltz gestures to Fox News host and President Donald Trump's daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, after speaking with her at the White House in Washington, Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
White House national security adviser Mike Waltz gestures to Fox News host and President Donald Trump's daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, after speaking with her at the White House in Washington, Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

The White House's national security advisor, Mike Waltz, has said that the US sought "full dismantlement" of Iran's nuclear program.
"Iran has to give up its program in a way that the entire world can see," he said on CBS News on Sunday.
"As President (Donald) Trump has said, this is coming to a head. All options are on the table and it is time for Iran to walk away completely from its desire to have a nuclear weapon."
US special envoy Steve Witkoff also said Sunday that Trump's outreach to Iran's top authority, Supreme leader Ali Khamenei, on a possible new nuclear deal is an effort to avoid military action.

"We don't need to solve everything militarily," Witkoff told Fox News.
"Our signal to Iran is let's sit down and see if we can, through dialogue, through diplomacy, get to the right place. If we can, we are prepared to do that. And if we can't, the alternative is not a great alternative."
Trump said earlier this month that he had sent a letter to Khamenei, warning that "there are two ways Iran can be handled: militarily, or you make a deal."
Khamenei rejected the US offer for talks as "a deception," saying negotiating with the Trump administration would "tighten the knot of sanctions and increase pressure on Iran."
Also Sunday, Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araqchi, said talks with the United States are no longer possible unless certain things change.

He said that Iran was not opposed to talks out of "stubbornness,” but rather as a result of history and experience, adding that Washington needs to recalibrate its policy before Tehran takes part in talks.
In his first term, Trump withdrew the United States from a 2015 deal between Iran and major powers that had placed strict limits on Tehran's nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief.
After Trump pulled out in 2018 and restored sanctions, Iran breached and far surpassed those limits in the development of its nuclear program.
"In my opinion, the 2015 pact in its current form cannot be revived. It would not be in our interest because our nuclear situation has advanced significantly and we can no longer return to previous conditions," Araqchi said. "The same can be said of the other side's sanctions. The 2015 nuclear pact can still be a basis and model for negotiations."



Hundreds of Thousands Rally in Istanbul in Support of Imprisoned Mayor

People take part in a rally to protest against the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu as part of a corruption investigation, in Istanbul, Türkiye, March 29, 2025. (Reuters)
People take part in a rally to protest against the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu as part of a corruption investigation, in Istanbul, Türkiye, March 29, 2025. (Reuters)
TT
20

Hundreds of Thousands Rally in Istanbul in Support of Imprisoned Mayor

People take part in a rally to protest against the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu as part of a corruption investigation, in Istanbul, Türkiye, March 29, 2025. (Reuters)
People take part in a rally to protest against the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu as part of a corruption investigation, in Istanbul, Türkiye, March 29, 2025. (Reuters)

Hundreds of thousands of protesters again congregated in Istanbul Saturday to show their support for the city's imprisoned mayor and demand his release.

Türkiye's main opposition party, the Republican People's Party (CHP) organized the demonstration, the latest in a series of protests that resulted in hundreds of detentions and have turned up the pressure on the country's long-time leader, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a key rival to Erdogan, was detained on March 19 on corruption and terrorism charges that many saw as politically motivated. The government insists the judiciary is independent and free of political interference.

His detention, and later formal arrest over the corruption charges on March 23rd, sparked nationwide protests despite assembly bans, police crackdowns, and legal prosecution by authorities.

“They’ve detained hundreds of our children, thousands of our youths... arrested hundreds of them,” CHP leader Ozgur Ozel told protesters. “They only had one goal in mind: to intimidate them, terrify them, make sure they never go out again.”

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said Thursday that nearly 1,900 people had been detained since March 19, and pro-government media reported Friday that public prosecutors had requested up to three years imprisonment for 74 of the detainees.

Police kept their distance at Saturday’s rally with no new arrests reported.  

Ozel called for the immediate release of Imamoglu, as well as for other political prisoners including Selahattin Demirtas, a former presidential candidate and founder of the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party, or DEM.  

“In the Türkiye we envision presidential candidates will not be imprisoned,” added Ozel.  

Last Sunday, hours after he had been formally arrested, Imamoglu won a symbolic primary to be the CHP's candidate in a presidential election currently scheduled for 2028, but which is likely to take place earlier.  

Ozel noted they would begin collecting signatures for Imamoglu’s release and also to demand an early election.

Other speakers at Saturday’s rally included Dilek Imamoglu, the imprisoned mayor’s wife, as well as Ankara Mayor Masur Yavas, another high profile CHP figure.