Nikki Haley pushes Trump to weaken Iran: ‘Make this a legacy-defining moment’

HUNT VALLEY, Md. (TNND) — Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor and United Nations ambassador, pushed President Donald Trump on Tuesday to weaken Iran.

She said during a Fox News interview that Trump, through negotiations or force, needs to end Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s nuclear program, block the administration’s funding of proxy groups and ensure the public’s freedom.

“The key at the end of the day is no nuclear enrichment, no more ballistic missile or drone activity, making sure the Iranian people finally have the freedom that they deserve and no more money going to their proxies,” Haley said. “And Iran’s never gonna agree to that, and that’s why I think the president needs to take his moment and make this a legacy-defining moment.”

Trump told Axios earlier Tuesday that he’s considering sending another fleet to the Middle East in preparation of military action against Iran. The president has sent resources to the region as negotiations continue on Tehran’s nuclear enrichment and weapons programs.

“We have an armada that is heading there and another one might be going,” Trump said.

Haley emphasized in her interview that the president should make a significant impact after sending resources to the region. Trump can’t leave Khamenei’s administration intact, she explained.

“The one thing you don’t wanna do is you don’t wanna send all these resources over there and then still have the Iranian regime standing,” Haley said.

Trump administration officials met with Iran’s foreign minister last week to discuss a deal on the country’s nuclear program. Both sides later spoke positively about the meeting.

“We likewise had very good talks on Iran,” the president told reporters on Friday. “Iran looks like it wants to make a deal very badly.”

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called the negotiations a “good start” and said they would likely continue. It’s unclear what exactly Iran is willing to compromise on, but Haley speculated Khamenei would reduce nuclear production for cash and relief from sanctions.

Trump is meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday to discuss Iran. Netanyahu has been concerned about Tehran’s nuclear program, which Israel struck last summer.

“I will present to the president our outlook regarding the principles of these negotiations – the essential principles which, in my opinion, are important not only to Israel, but to everyone around the world who wants peace and security in the Middle East,” the prime minister said before leaving Israel.

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