For nearly half a century, the
Islamic Republic of Iran — the world’s leading
state sponsorof terrorism — has killed and maimed American
citizens and service members through its own forces and proxy militias. More
Americans have been killed by Iran than any other terrorist regime on Earth.
President Donald J. Trump is
doing what Presidents over the last five decades have refused to do — eliminate
the threat once and for all. By destroying Iran’s missiles, annihilating their
navy, and ensuring they can never obtain a nuclear weapon, the Trump
Administration’s bold and decisive action is protecting American lives and
advancing American interests.
Here is only a partial record
of the Iranian regime’s blood-soaked war on Americans:
November
1979: Iranian students, backed by the
regime, seized the
U.S. Embassy in Tehran — taking 66 Americans hostage in a 444-day
standoff.
April
1983: The Islamic Jihad, an Iran-backed
terrorist group, carried
out a suicide car bombing at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, killing
17 Americans.
October
1983: Iran-backed Hezbollah terrorists killed 241
U.S. military personnel — including 220 U.S. Marines and 21 other service
personnel — in a truck bombing at a Marine compound in Beirut.
March
1984: Iran-backed Islamic Jihad terrorists kidnapped CIA
station chief William Buckley on his way to work in Beirut, ultimately
killing him the following year.
September
1984: Iran-backed Hezbollah terrorists killed 23
innocent people — including two
American service members — in a car bomb attack at the U.S. Embassy annex
in Beirut.
December
1984: Iran-backed Hezbollah terrorists hijacked Kuwait
Airways Flight 221 en route to Pakistan, diverting it to Tehran — where
they brutally tortured and killed two
American officials.
June
1985: Iran-backed Hezbollah terrorists hijacked TWA
Flight 847 on its way from Athens to Rome, torturing a U.S. Navy diver
before shooting him point blank in the head and tossing his body onto the
Beirut airport tarmac.
July
1989: Iran-backed Hezbollah terrorists killed U.S.
Marine Col. William Higgins after kidnapping him the previous year while
serving with a United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon.
April
1995: Iran-backed Islamic Jihad terrorists killed eight
people — including one American citizen — in a car bomb attack in the Gaza
Strip.
August
1995: An Iran-backed Hamas suicide bomber blew
up a bus in Jerusalem, killing an American and three other
passengers, and wounding more than 100 others.
February
1996: An Iran-backed Hamas suicide bomber blew
up another bus in Jerusalem, killing three Americans and wounding
three other Americans.
March
1996: A suicide bomber linked to the Iran-backed Hamas
and Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist groups killed 20
people — including two Americans — in a suicide bombing at a Tel Aviv
shopping center.
May
1996: Iran-backed terrorists killed an
American-Israeli dual citizen and wounded another American citizen in the
West Bank.
June
1996: Iran-backed Hezbollah Al-Hijaz terrorists killed 19
U.S. Airmen and wounded nearly 500 others in a truck bombing at a U.S. Air
Force housing complex in Saudi Arabia.
September
1997: Iran-backed Hamas suicide bombers blew
themselves up at a shopping mall in Jerusalem, killing an
American-Israeli dual citizen and wounding seven other American citizens.
August
1998: Al-Qaeda suicide bombers, facilitated by
Iran-backed Hezbollah, simultaneously bombed U.S. embassies in Kenya and
Tanzania, killing 224
people — including a dozen American citizens.
August
2001: An Iran-backed Hamas terrorist blew up a
Jerusalem pizzeria, killing three Americans.
January
2002: An Iran-backed al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigade
terrorist killed an
American-Israeli dual citizen in the West Bank.
July
2002: An Iran-backed Hamas terrorist killed five
Americans in a bombing at Hebrew University in Jerusalem.
June
2003: An Iran-backed Hamas suicide bomber killed 17 people —
including an American citizen — on a bus in Jerusalem.
October
2003: Iran-backed Popular Resistance Committees
terrorists killed three
U.S. diplomatic personnel in a bombing in Gaza.
Between
2003 and 2011: Iran-backed militias killed at
least 603 U.S. troops in Iraq — “roughly one in every six American combat
fatalities in Iraq.”
August
2003: An Iran-backed Hamas terrorist blew
up a bus in Jerusalem, killing five Americans and wounding one
other American.
August
2006: Iran-backed Hezbollah terrorists killed American
citizen and Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldier Michael Levin during the
Second Lebanon War — the only American to die in the conflict.
January
2007: A dozen men affiliated with Iran’s Islamic
Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force killed five
U.S. soldiers and wounded three others in Karbala, Iraq, after disguising themselves
as U.S. soldiers and entering the Provincial Joint Coordination Center.
March
2007: Former FBI Agent Robert Levinson disappeared in
Iran, likely dying in an Iranian prison.
July
2014: Iran-backed Hamas terrorists killed two
American citizens serving in the IDF.
October
2015: Iran-backed Hamas terrorists killed an
American citizen and his wife in a drive-by shooting in the West Bank.
December
2019: Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah terrorists killed an
American civilian contractor and wounded several U.S. service members in a
rocket attack at K1 Air Base in Kirkuk, Iraq.
January
2020: 109 U.S. troops suffered traumatic
brain injuries in an Iranian ballistic missile attack on the Ain al-Asad
airbase in Iraq.
September
2020: U.S. intelligence indicated the
Iranian regime was considering a plot to assassinate the U.S. Ambassador
to South Africa.
February
2021: An Iran-backed militia fired a
rocket at coalition forces in Erbil, Iraq, wounding a U.S. service member
and four U.S. civilian contractors.
July
2021: Iranian-backed militias wounded two
U.S. service members in a series of rocket and drone attacks against U.S.
forces in Iraq and Syria.
September
2022: An Iranian rocket attack killed an
American citizen in Iraqi Kurdistan.
November
2022: An IRGC captain orchestrated the
killing of an American citizen in Baghdad.
March
2023: An Iranian drone attack killed an
American contractor and wounded five U.S. service members and another
contractor in a strike on a coalition base in Syria.
October
2023: Iran-backed Hamas terrorists killed 46
Americans and kidnapped at least 12 Americans in the October 7th massacre.
December
2023: Iran-backed militias wounded three
U.S. service members in an attack on Erbil Air Base in Iraq.
January
2024: Iran-backed Kataib
Hezbollah terrorists killed three
U.S. service members and wounded more than 40 other service members in a
drone attack against the Tower 22 military base in Jordan.
Between
October 2023 and November 2024: Iran and its
proxies conducted more
than 180 attacks against U.S. forces in the Middle East, wounding more
than 180 U.S. service members and killing three service members.
November
2024: An Iranian national and IRGC asset was charged for
plotting to assassinate President Trump.
June
2025: Iran-backed militias attacked at
least three U.S. bases in Syria and two U.S.
bases in Iraq.
President Donald J. Trump on the United States Military Major Combat Operations in Iran
BREAKING: Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei killed in an Israeli airstrike
In February 2026, following the heightened tensions in January,Iran and the United States held a new round of diplomatic talks in Muscat, Oman, with Oman acting as a mediator. The discussions primarily focused on Iran's nuclear program and the potential easing of economic sanctions. The Iranian delegation was led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, while the U.S. delegation included senior officials from the State Department.
During the talks, the United States reportedly sought to address Iran's missile program and regional activities, whereas Iran emphasized that negotiations should remain limited to nuclear issues and sanctions relief. Both sides expressed commitment to continuing diplomatic engagement, though no immediate agreement was announced.
This
morning, key leaders of the Trump Administration were out across the airwaves
with a clear message: the world is safer today because of President Donald J.
Trump’s highly successful precision strikes against the Iranian regime’s key
nuclear facilities — and that what happens next is up to them.
Here’s
what you missed:
Vice
President JD Vance on Meet the Press
On the
precision strikes: “We’re not at war with Iran … We destroyed the
Iranian nuclear program … and we did it without endangering the lives of
American pilots. That’s an incredible thing.”
On
achieving peace: “We do not want war with Iran. We actually want
peace, but we want peace in the context of them not having a nuclear
weapons program — and that’s exactly what the President accomplished last
night.”
On
diplomacy: “They weren’t taking this seriously. They were trying to
draw this process out as long as possible so they could rebuild their
nuclear weapons program without the threat of American action … We didn’t
blow up the diplomacy. The diplomacy never was given a real chance by the
Iranians.”
On
potential retaliation: “We’re prepared in the event the that the
Iranians do retaliate, but … if the Iranians want to enlarge this by
attacking American troops, I think that would be a catastrophic mistake.”
On further
conflict: “We have no interest in a protracted conflict. We have no
interest in boots on the ground. The President has actually been one of
the fiercest critics of 25 years of failed foreign policy in the Middle
East, which is why he did what he did — a very precise, a very surgical
strike tailored to an American national interest.”
On regime
change: “Our view has been very clear that we don’t want a regime
change … We want to end their nuclear program, and then we want to talk to
the Iranians about a long-term settlement.”
Vice
President JD Vance on This Week
On Iranian
nuclear capabilities: “I can say to the American people with great
confidence that [Iran is] much further away from a nuclear program today
than they were 24 hours ago. That was the objective of the mission.”
On the
nature of the precision strikes: “If the Iranians attack us, they’re
going to be met with overwhelming force … We did not attack the nation of
Iran. We did not attack any civilian targets. We didn’t even attack
military targets outside of the three nuclear weapons facilities.”
On a
peaceful solution: “We believe the way that you achieve peace is
through strength … You can’t sit there and allow the Iranians to achieve a
nuclear weapon and expect that’s going to lead to peace … The President —
more than anybody — is worried about protracted military conflicts. That
is NOT what we’re getting ourselves involved in.”
Secretary of
State Marco Rubio on Face the Nation
On what
happens next: “What happens next will now depend on what Iran chooses
to do next. If they choose the path of diplomacy, we’re ready. We can do a
deal that’s good for them, the Iranian people, and good for the world. If
they choose another route, then there’ll be consequences.”
On the
reality of Iran’s nuclear development: “They had everything they need
to build nuclear weapons. Why would you bury things in a mountain 300 feet
under the ground? Why do they have 60% enriched uranium? … The only
countries in the world that have uranium at 60% are countries that have
nuclear weapons because they can quickly make it 90%.”
On a
peaceful resolution: “We’ll defend our people … but let’s hope they
don’t choose that route. Let’s all hope that they actually decide, ‘let’s
go negotiate’ because we want a diplomatic and peaceful solution.”
On
diplomacy: “This is very simple. The President wants to resolve this
diplomatically and peacefully. He gave them a chance to do that … What
happens next is up to the regime.”
Secretary of
State Marco Rubio on Sunday Morning Futures
On
President Trump’s decision: “[Iran] tried to play him along the way
they’ve played every American president for the last 35 years and the
President told them if we don’t get a deal — which is what we wanted —
then I’ll have to have to handle it differently … We didn’t make that choice,
they did.”
On U.S.
military might: “The President said very clearly, ‘We have 60 days to
make progress on a deal and if we don’t, I’m going to deal with it
differently’ … [Our military] went in, they did what they needed to do
with precision and skill that no other military in the world can do, and
they left.”
On
President Trump’s leadership: “They thought they could do with
President Trump what they’ve done with presidents in the past and get it
away with it — and they found out last night that they can’t … This is a
President that tells you what he’s going to do and then he does it.”
On the
evil of the Iranian regime: “Why did Hezbollah exist? Because of Iran.
Why does Hamas exist? Because of Iran. How do the Houthis exist? Because
of Iran. Who built the IEDs that maimed and killed American soldiers in
Iraq? Iran. They’re behind every problem in this region. They are the sole
source of instability in the entire Middle East … Imagine those people
having a nuclear weapon … That is unacceptable.”
On the
Strait of Hormuz: “If they do that, it will be another terrible
mistake. It’s economic suicide for them if they do it, and we retain
options to deal with that.”
President
Donald J. Trump has never wavered in his stance that Iran cannot
be allowed to have a nuclear weapon — a pledge he has made repeatedly, both in
office and on the campaign trail.
Since
taking office, President Trump has clearly stated no fewer than a dozen times
that Iran cannot be allowed to have a nuclear weapon:
“Iran cannot have a nuclear
weapon. It’s very simple — you don’t have to go to too deep into it. They
just can’t have a nuclear weapon.” (6/17/25)
“I want to see no nuclear weapon
in Iran and we’re well on our way to making sure that happens.” (6/16/25)
“You can’t have peace if Iran
has a nuclear weapon.” (6/14/25)
“They can’t have a nuclear
weapon. Very simple. They can’t have a nuclear weapon. We’re not going to
allow that.” (6/11/25)
“You have to view them as people
and I don’t want it to be a violent thing, but they’re not going to have a
nuclear weapon.” (5/16/25)
“I want them to succeed. I want
them to end up being a great country, frankly, but they can’t have a
nuclear weapon.” (5/15/25)
“I want to make a deal with
Iran, I want to do something if it’s possible, but for that to happen, it
must stop sponsoring terror, halt its bloody proxy wars, and permanently
and verifiably cease its pursuit of nuclear weapons.” (5/14/25)
“Iran can have a much brighter
future — but we’ll never allow America and its allies to be threatened
with terrorism or a nuclear attack. The choice is theirs to make. We
really want them to be a successful country … but they cannot have a
nuclear weapon.” (5/13/25)
“We want it to be a great
country. Let it be a tremendously successful, rich country … but they
can’t have a nuclear weapon.” (5/6/25)
“I want Iran to be really
successful, really great, really fantastic — the only thing they can’t
have is a nuclear weapon. If they want to be successful, that’s OK. I want
them to be so successful and, you know, the Iranian people are incredible
— I just don’t want them to have a nuclear weapon because the world will
be destroyed.” (5/4/25)
“Iran has to get rid of the
concept of a nuclear weapon. They cannot have a nuclear weapon.” (4/14/25)
“I want Iran to be a wonderful,
great, happy country — but they can’t have a nuclear weapon.” (4/11/25)
“You cannot allow [Iran] to have
a nuclear weapon.” (2/10/25)
“It’s very simple: Iran cannot
have a nuclear weapon.” (2/4/25)
President
Trump made the same pledge no fewer than 40 times on the campaign trail and
even earlier:
“Iran can’t have a nuclear
weapon. Nuclear weapons are the greatest single threat to our country, but
to the entire world.” (11/3/24)
“I would have been very good to
Iran. They — I had to have one thing, no nuclear weapons. You can’t have
nuclear weapon. Nuclear weapons are the greatest danger to our country
going forward, to the world going forward.” (10/29/24)
“And all I wanted was Iran can’t
have a nuclear weapon … That’s all I wanted. Very simple. You can’t have a
nuclear weapon.” (10/28/24)
“We don’t want Iran to have a
nuclear weapon.” (10/23/24)
“I didn’t want much. I wanted
Iran to be very successful. I just don’t want them to have a nuclear
weapon.” (10/16/24)
“You can’t let them have a
nuclear weapon.” (10/14/24)
“I just don’t want them to have
a nuclear weapon. It’s very simple.” (10/10/24)
“I only wanted one thing. You
can’t have a nuclear weapon. You cannot let them have a nuclear weapon.” (10/7/24)
“No, they can’t have nukes. No,
they can’t have nukes.” (10/7/24)
“They can’t have a nuclear
weapon — and now they’re very close to having one and it’s very dangerous
for the world, very dangerous for the world … The biggest problem today,
in my opinion, the biggest risk is the nuclear weapons.” (10/1/24)
“All I want them to do is not
have a nuclear weapon. They can’t have a nuclear weapon.” (9/30/24)
“The only thing is [Iran] cannot
have nuclear weapons.” (9/26/24)
“I wanted one thing from Iran —
no nuclear weapon. I didn’t want much — no nuclear weapon. And now they’re
very close to getting it, and you can’t let that happen.” (9/19/24)
“All we want is we don’t want
them to have a nuclear weapon. Very simple. That’s all we want. We don’t
want you to have a nuclear weapon.” (9/17/24)
“They can’t have a nuclear
weapon. We just can’t let them have a nuclear weapon. I’ll say this. If
they do have a nuclear weapon, Israel is gone. It’ll be gone.” (8/27/24)
“I don’t want them to have a
nuclear weapon.” (8/23/24)
“I just wanted to have a deal
with Iran, very simple deal — can’t have a nuclear weapon. That’s it.” (8/23/24)
“They can’t have a nuclear
weapon. They can’t have a nuclear weapon. And we were all set to make sure
that they don’t have a nuclear weapon. Because once they do, it’s a whole
different world, it’s a whole different negotiation.” (8/15/24)
“Iran can’t have a nuclear
weapon — it’s very simple.” (8/8/24)
“They can’t have a nuclear
weapon. It’s very simple. They can’t have a nuclear weapon. You cannot let
Iran have a nuclear weapon.” (8/5/24)
“Iran should not have a nuclear
weapon … Iran should never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon.” (7/10/24)
“The main thing is Iran can’t
have a nuclear weapon. That was my main thing. The deal was a simple deal.
Iran can’t have a nuclear. You know, it can’t have a missile, it can’t
have a nuclear missile. It cannot have that nuclear capability.” (6/20/24)
“We have a very hostile country
that wants nuclear weapons. You can’t let that happen.” (6/15/24)
“Iran should not be allowed to
have a nuclear weapon. They would never have had even close to a nuclear
weapon. They are very close to getting a nuclear weapon. You cannot let
that happen.” (5/15/24)
“Iran cannot have a nuclear
weapon — very simple. They cannot have a nuclear weapon.” (5/1/24)
“You can’t let Iran have nuclear
weapons.” (4/30/24)
“Iran wanted to make a deal, and
what the deal — 90% of the deal that I want to make is no nuclear weapon.
That’s 90% — almost 100%. It might be 100%. That’s all I want. No nuclear
weapon for Iran” (3/25/24)
“I want everybody to be happy.
They just can’t have a nuclear weapon.” (2/23/24)
“I just didn’t want Iran to have
a nuclear weapon. I said, ‘You know, we’re going to make a great deal.
Everybody’s going to be happy. You’re going to be rich as hell again.
Everything’s going to be great, but you cannot have a nuclear weapon.’” (1/20/24)
“They cannot have a nuclear
weapon. That was the only thing — the one thing I said, ‘You cannot
have.’” (1/5/24)
“I just don’t want them to have
a nuclear weapon.” (1/5/24)
“They will have, within a short
period of time, nuclear weapons — and that is never something that can be
allowed to happen.” (12/30/23)
“No nuclear weapons. You can’t
have nuclear weapons. Nuclear weapons are the single greatest threat to
this world.” (11/9/23)
“They can’t have a nuclear
weapon. That’s all. They can’t have nuclear weapons. It’s too destructive,
too powerful. They can’t have it.” (10/29/23)
“Don’t let Iran have nuclear
weapons. That’s my only thing I have to tell you today. Don’t let them
have it.” (10/16/23)
“No nuclear weapons. You can’t
give [Iran] nuclear weapons.” (7/15/23)
“You cannot let Iran have a
nuclear weapon. You cannot let it happen because bad things will happen if
that happens.” (6/24/23)
_______________________ On June 13 2025 Israel initiated Operation Rising Lion, a large‑scale aerial assault targeting Iranian nuclear facilities, missile factories, military sites, and commanders across cities including Tehran and Natanz. Among the targets were also Revolutionary Guard commander Hossein Salami and other senior IRGC leaders were reportedly killed. Iranian state media also confirm deaths of nuclear scientists and claim civilian casualties in Tehran.
According to IAEA, a May 2025 report, several undeclared locations in Iran remain at the center of its investigation into Iran's past nuclear activities. These include Turquzabad, first identified publicly in 2018 when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed it was a secret nuclear warehouse. Inspectors later detected man-made uranium particles there in 2019.[101] Two other sites, Varamin and Marivan, also yielded traces of undeclared nuclear material when IAEA inspectors were granted access in 2020. A fourth site, Lavisan-Shian, has been under scrutiny as well, though inspectors were never able to visit it because it was demolished after 2003. IAEA concluded that these locations, and possibly others too, were part of an undeclared nuclear program conducted by Iran up until the early 2000s.
On 12 June 2025, Iran announced the activation of a third uranium enrichment site following the IAEA's first formal censure of Iran in two decades. While the location has not been disclosed, Iranian officials described it as "secure and invulnerable."
-------------------
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----------------------------
IAEA, May 2025 reported that there are several undeclared locations in Iran remain at the center of its investigation into Iran's past nuclear activities.
These include Turquzabad, first identified publicly in 2018 when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed it was a secret nuclear warehouse. Inspectors later detected man-made uranium particles there in 2019. Two other sites, Varamin and Marivan, also yielded traces of undeclared nuclear material when IAEA inspectors were granted access in 2020. A fourth site, Lavisan-Shian, has been under scrutiny as well, though inspectors were never able to visit it because it was demolished after 2003.[101] IAEA concluded that these locations, and possibly others too, were part of an undeclared nuclear program conducted by Iran up until the early 2000s.
——————————————
Iran's nuclear program is one of the most scrutinized nuclear programs in the world. While the Islamic Republic of Iran claims its program is for peaceful purposes, it has developed nuclear technologies that provide it the capability to develop a nuclear weapon within weeks if it decides to do so. According to experts, the military capabilities of the program are possible through its mass enrichment activities in facilities such as Natanz and Arak.
In June 2025, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) found Iran non-compliant with its nuclear obligations for the first time in 20 years.
Iran retaliated by launching a new enrichment site and installing advanced centrifuges.
Iran's nuclear program began in the 1950s under the Pahlavi dynasty with US support. It expanded in the 1970s with plans for power reactors, paused after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, and resumed secretly during the 1980s Iran–Iraq War. In the 1990s, Iran pursued a full nuclear fuel cycle and acquired centrifuge technology through illicit networks, including ties with Pakistan and North Korea. Undeclared enrichment sites at Natanz and Arak were exposed in 2002, and Fordow, an underground fuel enrichment site, was revealed in 2009.
CNN — Iran has warned it will ramp up its nuclear activities after the United Nations nuclear watchdog’s 35-member board of governors adopted a resolution Thursday declaring it in breach of its non-proliferation obligations.
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The resolution was tabled by European countries and the US after a May 31 IAEA report found Iran to be non-compliant in its nuclear duties, including failing to answer questions on uranium particles found in undeclared sites in the country, and its stockpiling of uranium enriched to nearly weapons grade. Iran says the IAEA report was politicized.
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2025 United States–Iran negotiations
In January 2025, it was reported that Iran is developing long-range missile technology under the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), with some designs based on North Korean models. According to the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), these missiles, such as the Ghaem-100 and Simorgh, could carry nuclear warheads and reach targets as far as 3,000 km away, including parts of Europe.
In March 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump sent a letter to Iran seeking to reopen negotiations. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei later said, "Some bullying governments insist on negotiations not to resolve issues but to impose their own expectations," which was seen as in response to the letter.
In April 2025, Trump revealed that Iran had decided to undertake talks with the United States for an agreement over its nuclear program.
On 12 April, both countries held their first high-level meeting in Oman, followed by a second meeting on 19 April in Italy. On May 16, Trump sent Iran an offer and said they have to move quickly or else bad things would happen. On May 17, Khamenei condemned Trump, saying that he lied about wanting peace and that he was not worth responding to, calling the US demands "outrageous nonsense." Khamenei also reiterated that Israel is "cancerous tumour" that must be uprooted.
On May 31, 2025, IAEA reported that Iran had sharply increased its stockpile of uranium enriched to 60% purity, just below weapons-grade, reaching over 408 kilograms, a nearly 50% rise since February. The agency warned that this amount is enough for multiple nuclear weapons if further enriched. It also noted that Iran remains the only non-nuclear-weapon state to produce such material, calling the situation a "serious concern." In June 2025, the NCRI said Iran is pursuing nuclear weapons through a new program called the "Kavir Plan". According to the NCRI, the new project involves six sites in Semnan province working on warheads and related technology, succeeding the previous AMAD Project.
On June 10, Trump stated in that Iran was becoming "much more aggressive" in the negotiations.
On 11 June, the Iranian regime threatened US bases in the Middle East, with Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh stating, "If a conflict is imposed on us... all US bases are within our reach, and we will boldly target them in host countries." The U.S. embassy in Iraq evacuated all personnel.[85][86][87] The Iran-backed Yemen-based Houthi movement threatened to attack the United States if a strike on Iran were to occur. CENTCOM presented a wide range of military options for an attack on Iran. UK issued threat advisory for ships on Arabian Gulf. U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth told Congress that Iran was attempting a nuclear breakout.
On 12 June 2025, IAEA found Iran non-compliant with its nuclear obligations for the first time in 20 years. Iran retaliated by launching a new enrichment site and installing advanced centrifuges.
Natanz Nuclear Facility
Natanz, located about 220 km southeast of Tehran, is Iran's main uranium enrichment site. The facility includes an underground Fuel Enrichment Plant (FEP) housing large cascades of gas centrifuges, as well as a smaller Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant (PFEP) above the ground. Iran has installed thousands of first-generation IR-1 centrifuges and more advanced models (IR-2m, IR-4, IR-6) here. As of 2025, Natanz is enriching uranium up to 60% U-235, a level approaching weapons-grade. Iran has also begun excavating a new enrichment hall deep under the adjacent Kūh-e Kolang Gaz Lā (“Pickaxe Mountain”) to harden the site against airstrikes.
In the past, the site saw multiple sabotage attacks (such as the Stuxnet cyberattack and unexplained explosions).
On 13 June 2025, the site was struck by Israeli airstrikes during Operation Rising Lion.
Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant
Fordow (near the city of Qom, approximately 100 km southwest of Tehran) is an underground enrichment site built inside a mountain. Originally designed to host about 3,000 centrifuges, Fordow was revealed in 2009 and appears engineered to withstand airstrikes. It was re-purposed under the 2015 nuclear deal as a research facility with no enrichment, but Iran resumed enrichment at Fordow after 2019.
By 2025, Iran is using Fordow to enrich uranium up to 60% U-235 as well, deploying advanced IR-6 centrifuges. Fordow's smaller size and heavy fortification make it a particular proliferation concern. The IAEA still inspects Fordow, but Iran's suspension of the Additional Protocol means inspectors no longer have daily access.
In June 2025, Iran revealed plans to install advanced centrifuges at the facility.
Bushehr
Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant
Bushehr is Iran's only commercial nuclear power station, situated on the Persian Gulf coast in southern Iran. The site's first unit, a 1000 MWe pressurized water reactor (VVER-1000) built with Russian assistance, began operation in 2011–2013. Russia supplies the enriched fuel for Bushehr-1 and removes the spent fuel, an arrangement that minimizes proliferation risk. Iran is constructing two additional VVER-1000 reactors at Bushehr with Russian collaboration, slated to come online in the late 2020s. Bushehr is under full IAEA safeguards. Its operation is closely monitored by the Agency, and Iran, like any NPT party, must report and permit inspection of the reactor and its fuel.
Arak IR-40
Arak IR-40 complex, a heavy water reactor and production plant
Arak, about 250 km southwest of Tehran, is the site of Iran's IR-40 heavy water reactor and associated heavy water production plant. The 40 MW (thermal) reactor, still under construction, is designed to use natural uranium fuel and heavy water moderation, which would produce plutonium as a byproduct in the spent fuel. In its original configuration, the Arak reactor could have yielded enough plutonium for roughly 1–2 nuclear weapons per year if Iran built a reprocessing facility (which it does not have). Under the JCPOA, Iran agreed to halt work on Arak and redesign the reactor to a smaller, proliferation-resistant version. In January 2016, Iran removed and filled Arak’s original reactor core with concrete, disabling it. As of mid-2025, Iran, with international input, has been modifying the reactor design to limit its plutonium output, and the reactor has not yet become operational. A heavy water production plant at the Arak site continues to operate (25 tons/year capacity), supplying heavy water for the reactor and medical research; Iran's heavy water stockpile is under IAEA monitoring per its safeguards commitments.
Tehran Research Reactor (TRR)
Located in Tehran at the headquarters of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, the Tehran Research Reactor is a 5 MW pool-type research reactor. It was provided by the United States in 1967 as part of the "Atoms for Peace" program. Originally fueled with highly enriched uranium (HEU), the TRR was converted in 1987 to use 19.75% enriched uranium (LEU). The TRR is used to produce medical isotopes (such as molybdenum-99) and for scientific research. Its need for 20% LEU fuel became a point of contention when Iran's external fuel supply ran low in 2009, prompting the decision to enrich uranium to 20%.
By the
authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the
United States of America, including the International Emergency Economic Powers
Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), the National Emergencies Act
(50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), section 212(f) of the Immigration
and Nationality Act of 1952 (8 U.S.C. 1182(f)), and section 301 of title 3,
United States Code, it is hereby ordered:
Section1. Amendments to Executive Order 14144.
Executive Order 14144 of January 16, 2025 (Strengthening and Promoting
Innovation in the Nation’s Cybersecurity), is hereby amended by:
(a)
striking subsections 2(a)-(b) and redesignating subsections 2(c), 2(d), and
2(e) as subsections 2(a), 2(b), and 2(c), respectively;
(b)
striking the first sentence of subsection 2(e);
(c)
striking subsections 3(a)-(b) and redesignating subsections 3(c), 3(d), and
3(e) as subsections 3(a), 3(b), and 3(c), respectively;
(d)
striking from subsection 3(c) the phrase “In Executive Order 14028, I directed
the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish
procedures to immediately
share threat information to strengthen the
collective defense of Department of Defense and civilian networks.”;
(e)
striking from subsection 3(c)(i)(A) the word “novel”;
(f)
striking subsection 4(b)(iv);
(g)
striking subsections 4(d)(ii)-(iii);
(h)
striking section 5 and redesignating sections 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 as
sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10, respectively; and
(i)
striking from subsection 8(c) the phrase “in the areas of intrusion detection,
use of hardware roots of trust for secure booting, and development and
deployment of security patches.”.
Sec. 2. Further
Amendments to Executive Order 14144. Executive Order 14144 is hereby
amended by:
(a)
striking section 1 and inserting, in lieu thereof, the following:
“Section 1.
Policy. Foreign nations and criminals continue to conduct cyber
campaigns targeting the United States and Americans. The People’s
Republic of China presents the most active and persistent cyber threat to
United States Government, private sector, and critical infrastructure
networks, but significant threats also emanate from Russia, Iran, North Korea,
and others who undermine United States cybersecurity. These campaigns
disrupt the delivery of critical services across the Nation, cost billions of
dollars, and undermine Americans’ security and privacy. More must be done
to improve the Nation’s cybersecurity against these threats. I am
ordering additional actions to improve our Nation’s cybersecurity, focusing on
defending our digital infrastructure, securing the services and capabilities
most vital to the digital domain, and building our capability to address key
threats.”;
(b)
striking subsection 2(c) and inserting, in lieu thereof, the following:
“(c)
Relevant executive departments and agencies (agencies) shall take the following
actions:
(i)
By August 1, 2025, the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Director of
NIST, shall establish a consortium with industry at the National Cybersecurity
Center of Excellence to develop guidance, informed by the consortium as appropriate,
that demonstrates the implementation of secure software development, security,
and operations practices based on NIST Special Publication 800–218 (Secure
Software Development Framework (SSDF)).
(ii)
By September 2, 2025, the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Director of
NIST, shall update NIST Special Publication 800–53 (Security and Privacy
Controls for Information Systems and Organizations) to provide guidance on
how to securely and reliably deploy patches and updates.
(iii)
By December 1, 2025, the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Director of
NIST, in consultation with the heads of such agencies as the Director of NIST
deems appropriate, shall develop and publish a preliminary update to the SSDF.
This preliminary update shall include practices, procedures, controls,
and implementation examples regarding the secure and reliable development and
delivery of software as well as the security of the software itself.
Within 120 days of publishing the preliminary update, the Secretary of
Commerce, acting through the Director of NIST, shall publish a final version of
the updated SSDF.”;
(c)
striking from subsection 4(b) the phrase “The security of Internet traffic
depends on data being correctly routed and delivered to the intended recipient
network. Routing information originated and propagated across the
Internet, utilizing the Border Gateway Protocol (BGP), is vulnerable to attack
and misconfiguration.” and inserting, in lieu thereof, the following:
“Relevant
agencies shall take the following actions:”;
(d)
striking subsection 4(f) and inserting, in lieu thereof, the following:
“(f) A
quantum computer of sufficient size and sophistication — also known as a
cryptanalytically relevant quantum computer (CRQC) — will be capable of
breaking much of the public-key cryptography used on digital systems across the
United States and around the world. National Security Memorandum 10 of
May 4, 2022 (Promoting United States Leadership in Quantum Computing While
Mitigating Risks to Vulnerable Cryptographic Systems), directed the Federal
Government to prepare for a transition to cryptographic algorithms that would
not be vulnerable to a CRQC.
(i)
By December 1, 2025, the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the
Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and in
consultation with the Director of the National Security Agency, shall release
and thereafter regularly update a list of product categories in which products
that support post-quantum cryptography (PQC) are widely available.
(ii)
By December 1, 2025, to prepare for transition to PQC, the Director of the
National Security Agency with respect to National Security Systems (NSS), and
the Director of OMB with respect to non-NSS, shall each issue requirements for
agencies to support, as soon as practicable, but not later than January 2,
2030, Transport Layer Security protocol version 1.3 or a successor version.”;
(e)
striking former section 6 (newly designated section 5) and inserting, in lieu
thereof, the following:
“Sec. 5.
Promoting Security with and in Artificial Intelligence. Artificial
intelligence (AI) has the potential to transform cyber defense by rapidly
identifying vulnerabilities, increasing the scale of threat detection
techniques, and automating cyber defense.
(a) By
November 1, 2025, the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Director of
NIST; the Secretary of Energy; the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting
through the Under Secretary for Science and Technology; and the Director of the
National Science Foundation shall ensure that existing datasets for cyber
defense research have been made accessible to the broader academic research
community (either securely or publicly) to the maximum extent feasible, in
consideration of business confidentiality and national security.
(b) By
November 1, 2025, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Homeland Security,
and the Director of National Intelligence, in coordination with appropriate
officials within the Executive Office of the President, to include officials
within the Office of Science and Technology Policy, the Office of the National
Cyber Director, and the Director of OMB, shall incorporate management of AI
software vulnerabilities and compromises into their respective agencies’
existing processes and interagency coordination mechanisms for vulnerability
management, including through incident tracking, response, and reporting, and
by sharing indicators of compromise for AI systems.”;
(f)
striking section 7 and inserting, in lieu thereof, the following:
“Sec. 7.
Aligning Policy to Practice. Agencies’ policies must align
investments and priorities to improve network visibility and security controls
to reduce cyber risks. In consultation with the National Cyber Director,
agencies shall take the following actions:
(a)
Within 3 years of the date of this order, the Director of OMB shall issue
guidance, including any necessary revision to OMB Circular A–130, to address
critical risks and adapt modern practices and architectures across Federal
information systems and networks.
(b)
Within 1 year of the date of this order, the Secretary of Commerce, acting
through the Director of NIST; the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting
through the Director of CISA; and the Director of OMB shall establish a pilot
program of a rules-as- code approach for machine-readable versions of policy
and guidance that OMB, NIST, and CISA publish and manage regarding
cybersecurity.
(c)
Within 1 year of the date of this order, agency members of the FAR Council
shall, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, jointly take steps to
amend the FAR to adopt requirements for agencies to, by January 4, 2027,
require vendors to the Federal Government of consumer Internet-of-Things
products, as defined by 47 CFR 8.203(b), to carry United States Cyber Trust
Mark labeling for those products.”; and
(g)
striking subsection 8(a) and inserting, in lieu thereof, the following:
“(a)
Except as specifically provided for in subsection 4(f) of this order,
sections 1 through 7 of this order shall not apply to Federal information
systems that are NSS or are otherwise identified by the Department of Defense
or the Intelligence Community as debilitating impact systems.”.
Sec. 3. Amendments
to Executive Order 13694. Executive Order 13694 of April 1, 2015
(Blocking the Property of Certain Persons Engaging in Significant Malicious
Cyber-Enabled Activities), as amended by Executive Order 13757 of December 28,
2016 (Taking Additional Steps to Address the National Emergency With Respect to
Significant Malicious Cyber-Enabled Activities), Executive Order 13984 of
January 19, 2021 (Taking Additional Steps to Address the National Emergency
With Respect to Significant Malicious Cyber-Enabled Activities), and Executive
Order 14144, is hereby further amended by:
(a)
striking from subsection 1(a)(ii) the phrase “any person” and inserting in lieu
thereof “any foreign person”; and
(b)
striking from subsection 1(a)(iii) the phrase “any person” and inserting in
lieu thereof “any foreign person.”.
Sec. 4. General
Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to
impair or otherwise affect:
(i)
the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head
thereof; or
(ii)
the functions of the Director of OMB relating to budgetary, administrative, or
legislative proposals.
(b)
This order shall be implemented in a manner consistent with applicable
law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c)
This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit,
substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against
the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers,
employees, or agents, or any other person.
(d)
The costs for publication of this order shall be borne by the Department
of Homeland Security.
COMBATING
TERRORISM THROUGH COMMON SENSE SECURITY STANDARDS: Today, President Donald J.
Trump signed a Proclamation to protect the nation from foreign terrorist and
other national security and public safety threats from entry into the United
States.
Pursuant to President Trump’s
Executive Order 14161, issued on January 20, 2025, titled “Protecting the
United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and
Public Safety Threats,” national security agencies engaged in a robust
assessment of the risk that countries posed to the United States,
including regarding terrorism and national security.
In Trump v. Hawaii,
the Supreme Court upheld the President’s authority to use section 212(f)
of the Immigration and Nationality Act to protect the United States
through entry restrictions.
The Proclamation fully restricts
and limits the entry of nationals from 12 countries found to be deficient
with regards to screening and vetting and determined to pose a very high
risk to the United States: Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo,
Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
The Proclamation partially
restricts and limits the entry of nationals from 7 countries who also pose
a high level of risk to the United States: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra
Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.
The Proclamation includes
exceptions for lawful permanent residents, existing visa holders, certain
visa categories, and individuals whose entry serves U.S. national
interests.
SECURING
OUR BORDERS AND INTERESTS: The restrictions and limitations imposed by the Proclamation are
necessary to garner cooperation from foreign governments, enforce our
immigration laws, and advance other important foreign policy, national
security, and counterterrorism objectives.
It is the President’s sacred
duty to take action to ensure that those seeking to enter our country will
not harm the American people.
After evaluating a report
submitted by the Secretary of State, in coordination with other cabinet
officials, President Trump has determined that the entry of nationals from
certain countries must be restricted or limited to protect U.S. national
security and public safety interests.
The restrictions are
country-specific in order to encourage cooperation with the subject
countries in recognition of each country’s unique circumstances.
Some of the named countries have
inadequate screening and vetting processes, hindering America’s ability to
identify potential security threats before entry.
Certain countries exhibit high
visa overstay rates, demonstrating a disregard for U.S. immigration laws
and increasing burdens on enforcement systems.
Other countries lack cooperation
in sharing identity and threat information, undermining effective U.S.
immigration vetting.
Some countries have a
significant terrorist presence or state-sponsored terrorism, posing direct
risks to U.S. national security.
Several countries have
historically failed to accept back their removable nationals, complicating
U.S. efforts to manage immigration and public safety.
MAKING
AMERICA SAFE AGAIN: President
Trump is keeping his promise to restore the travel ban and secure our borders.
President Trump: “We will
restore the travel ban, some people call it the Trump travel ban, and keep
the radical Islamic terrorists out of our country that was upheld by the
Supreme Court.”
In his first term, President
Trump successfully implemented a travel ban that restricted entry from
several countries with inadequate vetting processes or significant
security risks.
The Supreme Court upheld the travel
ban, ruling that it “is squarely within the scope of Presidential
authority” and noting that it is “expressly premised on legitimate
purposes.”
This Proclamation builds on
President Trump’s first-term travel ban, incorporating an updated
assessment of current global screening, vetting, and security risks.
JUSTIFICATION
FOR FULL SUSPENSION BY COUNTRY
Afghanistan
The Taliban, a Specially
Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) group, controls Afghanistan.
Afghanistan lacks a competent or cooperative central authority for issuing
passports or civil documents and it does not have appropriate screening
and vetting measures. According to the Fiscal Year 2023 Department
of Homeland Security (DHS) Entry/Exit Overstay Report (“Overstay Report”),
Afghanistan had a business/tourist (B1/B2) visa overstay rate of 9.70
percent and a student (F), vocational (M), and exchange visitor (J) visa
overstay rate of 29.30 percent.
Burma
According to the Overstay
Report, Burma had a B1/B2 visa overstay rate of 27.07 percent and an F, M,
and J visa overstay rate of 42.17 percent. Additionally, Burma has
historically not cooperated with the United States to accept back their
removable nationals.
Chad
According to the Overstay
Report, Chad had a B1/B2 visa overstay rate of 49.54 percent and an F, M,
and J visa overstay rate of 55.64 percent. According to the Fiscal
Year 2022 Overstay Report, Chad had a B1/B2 visa overstay rate of 37.12
percent. The high visa overstay rate for 2022 and 2023 is
unacceptable and indicates a blatant disregard for U.S. immigration
laws.
Republic
of the Congo
According to the Overstay
Report, the Republic of the Congo had a B1/B2 visa overstay rate of 29.63
percent and an F, M, and J visa overstay rate of 35.14 percent.
Equatorial
Guinea
According to the Overstay
Report, Equatorial Guinea had a B1/B2 visa overstay rate of 21.98 percent
and an F, M, and J visa overstay rate of 70.18 percent.
Eritrea
The United States questions the
competence of the central authority for issuance of passports or civil
documents in Eritrea. Criminal records are not available to the United
States for Eritrean nationals. Eritrea has historically refused to
accept back its removable nationals. According to the Overstay
Report, Eritrea had a B1/B2 visa overstay rate of 20.09 percent and an F,
M, and J visa overstay rate of 55.43 percent.
Haiti
According to the Overstay
Report, Haiti had a B1/B2 visa overstay rate of 31.38 percent and an F, M,
and J visa overstay rate of 25.05 percent. Additionally, hundreds of
thousands of illegal Haitian aliens flooded into the United States during
the Biden Administration. This influx harms American communities by
creating acute risks of increased overstay rates, establishment of
criminal networks, and other national security threats. As is widely
known, Haiti lacks a central authority with sufficient availability and
dissemination of law enforcement information necessary to ensure its
nationals do not undermine the national security of the United
States.
Iran
Iran is a state sponsor of
terrorism. Iran regularly fails to cooperate with the United States
Government in identifying security risks, is the source of significant
terrorism around the world, and has historically failed to accept back its
removable nationals.
Libya
There is no competent or
cooperative central authority for issuing passports or civil documents in
Libya. The historical terrorist presence within Libya’s territory
amplifies the risks posed by the entry into the United States of its
nationals.
Somalia
Somalia lacks a competent or
cooperative central authority for issuing passports or civil documents and
it does not have appropriate screening and vetting measures. Somalia
stands apart from other countries in the degree to which its government
lacks command and control of its territory, which greatly limits the
effectiveness of its national capabilities in a variety of respects.
A persistent terrorist threat also emanates from Somalia’s
territory. The United States Government has identified Somalia as a
terrorist safe haven. Terrorists use regions of Somalia as safe
havens from which they plan, facilitate, and conduct their
operations. Somalia also remains a destination for individuals
attempting to join terrorist groups that threaten the national security of
the United States. The Government of Somalia struggles to provide
governance needed to limit terrorists’ freedom of movement.
Additionally, Somalia has historically refused to accept back its
removable nationals.
Sudan
Sudan lacks a competent or
cooperative central authority for issuing passports or civil documents and
it does not have appropriate screening and vetting measures.
According to the Overstay Report, Sudan had a B1/B2 visa overstay rate of
26.30 percent and an F, M, and J visa overstay rate of 28.40
percent.
Yemen
Yemen lacks a competent or
cooperative central authority for issuing passports or civil documents and
it does not have appropriate screening and vetting measures. The
government does not have physical control over its own territory.
Since January 20, 2025, Yemen has been the site of active U.S. military
operations.
JUSTIFICATION
FOR PARTIAL SUSPENSION BY COUNTRY (Immigrants and Nonimmigrants on B-1, B-2,
B-1/B-2, F, M, and J Visas)
Burundi
According to the Overstay
Report, Burundi had a B1/B2 visa overstay rate of 15.35 percent and an F,
M, and J visa overstay rate of 17.52 percent.
Cuba
Cuba is a state sponsor of
terrorism. The Government of Cuba does not cooperate or share
sufficient law enforcement information with the United States. Cuba
has historically refused to accept back its removable nationals.
According to the Overstay Report, Cuba had a B1/B2 visa overstay rate of
7.69 percent and a F, M, and J visa overstay rate of 18.75 percent.
Laos
According to the Overstay
Report, Laos had a B1/B2 visa overstay rate of 34.77 percent and a F, M,
and J visa overstay rate of 6.49 percent. Laos has historically
failed to accept back its removable nationals.
Sierra
Leone
According to the Overstay
Report, Sierra Leone had a B1/B2 visa overstay rate of 15.43 percent and a
F, M, and J visa overstay rate of 35.83 percent. Sierra Leone has
historically failed to accept back its removable nationals.
Togo
According to the Overstay
Report, Togo had a B1/B2 visa overstay rate of 19.03 percent and a F, M,
and J visa overstay rate of 35.05 percent.
Turkmenistan
According to the Overstay
Report, Turkmenistan had a B1/B2 visa overstay rate of 15.35 percent and a
F, M, and J visa overstay rate of 21.74 percent.
Venezuela
Venezuela lacks a competent or
cooperative central authority for issuing passports or civil documents and
it does not have appropriate screening and vetting measures.
Venezuela has historically refused to accept back its removable
nationals. According to the Overstay Report, Venezuela had a B1/B2
visa overstay rate of 9.83 percent.
NATIONAL SECURITY PRESIDENTIAL MEMORANDUM/NSPM-2
FEBRUARY 4, 2025
MEMORANDUM
FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE
THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY
THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
THE SECRETARY OF ENERGY
THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR
THE SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY
THE ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF OF STAFF
THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
THE UNITED STATES PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE TO THE UNITED NATIONS
THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE
THE DIRECTOR OF THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET
THE ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT FOR NATIONAL SECURITY AFFAIRS
THE COUNSEL TO THE PRESIDENT
THE ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT FOR ECONOMIC POLICY
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF
THE DIRECTOR OF THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
SUBJECT: Imposing Maximum Pressure on the Government of
the Islamic Republic of Iran, Denying
Iran All
Paths to a Nuclear Weapon, and
Countering Iran’s
Malign Influence
As President, my highest priority is to ensure the safety and security of the
United States and the American people. Since its inception in 1979 as a
revolutionary theocracy, the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran has
declared its hostility to the United States and its allies and partners.
Iran remains the world’s leading state sponsor of terror and has aided
Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, the Taliban, al-Qa’ida, and other terrorist networks.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is itself a designated Foreign
Terrorist Organization.
The Iranian Government, including the IRGC, is using agents and cyber-enabled
means to target United States nationals living in the United States and other
countries around the world for attacks, including assault, kidnapping, and
murder. Iran has also directed its proxy groups, including Hezbollah’s
Islamic Jihad Organization, to embed sleeper cells in the Homeland to be
activated in support of this terrorist activity.
Iran bears responsibility for the horrific Hamas massacres committed on October
7, 2023, and bears responsibility for continued Houthi attacks against the
United States Navy, allied navies, and international commercial shipping in the
Red Sea. Since April 2024, the regime has twice demonstrated its
willingness to launch ballistic and cruise missile attacks against the State of
Israel.
Iran commits grievous human rights abuses and arbitrarily detains foreigners,
including United States citizens, on spurious charges without due process of
law, subjecting them to abuse. The United States stands with the women of
Iran who face daily abuse by the regime.
Iran’s nuclear program, including its enrichment- and reprocessing-related
capabilities and nuclear-capable missiles, poses an existential danger to the
United States and the entire civilized world. A radical regime like this
can never be allowed to acquire or develop nuclear weapons, or to extort the
United States or its allies through the threat of nuclear weapons acquisition,
development, or use. Iran today stands in breach of its Nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty obligations by concealing undeclared nuclear sites and
material as required by its Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement with the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Iran has obstructed IAEA
access to its military sites or sites tied to the Organization of Defensive
Innovation and Research, also known as SPND, and to interview nuclear weapons
scientists still employed by SPND. Public reports indicating that Iran
may now be engaged in computer modeling related to nuclear weapons development
raise immediate alarm. We must deny Iran all paths to a nuclear weapon
and end the regime’s nuclear extortion racket.
Iran’s behavior threatens the national interest of the United States. It
is therefore in the national interest to impose maximum pressure on the Iranian
regime to end its nuclear threat, curtail its ballistic missile program, and
stop its support for terrorist groups.
Section 1. Policy. It is the policy of the United
States that Iran be denied a nuclear weapon and intercontinental ballistic
missiles; that Iran’s network and campaign of regional aggression be
neutralized; that the IRGC and its surrogates be disrupted, degraded, or denied
access to the resources that sustain their destabilizing activities; and to
counter Iran’s aggressive development of missiles and other asymmetric and
conventional weapons capabilities.
Sec. 2. Enacting Maximum Pressure on the Islamic Republic of Iran. (a)
The Secretary of the Treasury shall:
(i)
immediately impose sanctions or appropriate enforcement remedies on all persons
for which the Department has evidence of activity in violation of one or more
Iran-related sanctions;
(ii) implement a
robust and continual sanctions enforcement campaign with respect to Iran that
denies the regime and its terror proxies access to revenue;
(iii) review for
modification or rescission any general license, frequently asked question, or
other guidance that provides Iran or any of its terror proxies any degree of
economic or financial relief;
(iv) issue updated
guidance to all relevant business sectors including shipping, insurance, and
port operators, about the risks to any person that knowingly violates United
States sanctions with respect to Iran or an Iranian terror proxy; and
(v) maintain
countermeasures against Iran at the Financial Action Task Force, evaluate
beneficial ownership thresholds to ensure sanctions deny Iran all possible
illicit revenue, and evaluate whether financial institutions should adopt a
“Know Your Customer’s Customer” standard for Iran-related transactions to
further prevent sanctions evasion.
(b)
The Secretary of State shall:
(i) modify
or rescind sanctions waivers, particularly those that provide Iran any degree
of economic or financial relief, including those related to Iran’s Chabahar
port project;
(ii) implement a
robust and continual campaign, in coordination with the Secretary of the
Treasury and other relevant executive departments or agencies (agencies), to
drive Iran’s export of oil to zero, including exports of Iranian crude to the
People’s Republic of China;
(iii) lead a diplomatic
campaign to isolate Iran throughout the world, including within international
organizations, including the denial of freedom of movement or safe haven to the
IRGC or any terror proxy of Iran wherever such may operate outside Iran’s
borders; and
(iv) take
immediate steps, in coordination with the Secretary of the Treasury and other
relevant agencies, to ensure that the Iraqi financial system is not utilized by
Iran for sanctions evasion or circumvention, and that Gulf countries are not
used as sanctions evasion transshipment points.
(c) The United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations
shall:
(i) work
with key allies to complete the snapback of international sanctions and
restrictions on Iran;
(ii) hold Iran
accountable for its breach of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty; and
(iii) regularly convene
the United Nations Security Council to highlight the myriad threats posed by
Iran to international peace and security.
(d) The Secretary of Commerce shall conduct a robust and continuous
export control enforcement campaign to restrict the flow of technology and
components used by the regime for military purposes.
(e)
The Attorney General shall:
(i) pursue
all available legal steps to investigate, disrupt, and prosecute financial and
logistical networks, operatives, or front groups inside the United States that
are sponsored by Iran or an Iranian terror proxy;
(ii) pursue all
available legal steps to impound illicit Iranian oil cargoes;
(iii) pursue all
available legal steps to identify Iranian governmental assets in the United
States and overseas, and help American victims of terrorism, including Gold
Star Families, collect on Federal judgments against Iran;
(iv) pursue all
available legal steps to indict and prosecute the leaders and members of
Iranian-funded terrorist groups and proxies that have captured, harmed, or
killed American citizens and, where possible and in coordination with the
Secretary of State, seek their arrest and extradition to the United States;
and
(v) use all
criminal, regulatory, and cyber authorities and tools to vigorously
investigate, prosecute, and disrupt efforts by the Iranian government to
conduct espionage or obtain military, intelligence, government, or other
sensitive information, compromise the Homeland and our critical infrastructure,
evade sanctions and export controls, obtain material support for terrorism,
exert foreign malign influence, and threaten harm and infringe on First
Amendment-protected speech, including efforts designed to sow anti-Semitism.
Sec. 3. General Provisions. (a) Nothing
in this memorandum shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority
granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of
the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary,
administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This memorandum shall be implemented
consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of
appropriations.
(c) This memorandum is not intended to, and does
not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law
or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments,
agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
RESTORING
MAXIMUM PRESSURE ON IRAN: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed a National Security
Presidential Memorandum (NSPM) restoring maximum pressure on the government of
the Islamic Republic of Iran, denying Iran all paths to a nuclear weapon, and
countering Iran’s malign influence abroad.
The NSPM establishes that:
Iran should be denied a nuclear
weapon and intercontinental ballistic missiles;
Iran’s terrorist network should
be neutralized; and
Iran’s aggressive development
of missiles, as well as other asymmetric and conventional weapons
capabilities, should be countered.
The NSPM directs the Secretary
of the Treasury to impose maximum economic pressure on the Government of
Iran, including by sanctioning or imposing enforcement mechanisms on those
acting in violation of existing sanctions.
The Treasury Secretary will
also issue guidance for all relevant business sectors – including
shipping, insurance, and port operators – about the risks to any person
that knowingly violates U.S. sanctions with respect to Iran or an Iranian
terror proxy.
The Secretary of State will
also modify or rescind existing sanctions waivers and cooperate with the
Secretary of Treasury to implement a campaign aimed at driving Iran’s oil
exports to zero.
The United States Permanent
Representative to the United Nations will work with key allies to
complete the snapback of international sanctions and restrictions on
Iran.
PROTECTING
THE HOMELAND FROM IRAN: The previous Administration’s tolerance of Iran’s threats to
American citizens and companies ends now.
The Attorney General will pursue
all available legal steps to investigate, disrupt, and prosecute financial
and logistical networks, operatives, or front groups inside the United
States that are sponsored by Iran or an Iranian terror proxy.
The Attorney General will
prosecute leaders and members of Iranian-funded terrorist groups that
have captured, harmed, or killed American citizens and seek their arrest
and extradition to the United States.
TAKING
IRAN’S NUCLEAR PROGRAM OFF THE TABLE: President Trump will not tolerate Iran possessing a
nuclear weapons capability, nor will he stand for their sustained sponsorship
of terrorism, especially against U.S. interests.
In 2020, President Trump
declared that “as long as [he is] President of the United States, Iran
will never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon.”
Today’s NSPM fulfills the
President’s 2020 vow to contend with Iran’s pernicious influence across
the globe:
“For far too long — all the way
back to 1979, to be exact — nations have tolerated Iran’s destructive and
destabilizing behavior in the Middle East and beyond. Those days
are over. Iran has been the leading sponsor of terrorism, and their
pursuit of nuclear weapons threatens the civilized world. We will
never let that happen.”
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