Rep. John McGuire (R-Va.), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, stated Friday that Iran currently holds enough highly enriched uranium to construct 11 nuclear bombs and defended President Donald Trump’s ongoing negotiations with Tehran as the administration seeks a 60-day ceasefire and broader nuclear agreement.
In an interview, McGuire expressed confidence in Trump’s leadership despite concerns about Iran’s nuclear capabilities and its history of supporting terrorism. “I trust President Trump,” McGuire said. “He’s got a backbone of all the presidents in my lifetime. He actually has the fortitude to stop this number one state sponsor of terror.”
The Virginia Republican noted his skepticism regarding Iran’s intentions, stating: “I just do not trust this regime.” However, he expressed faith that Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance, along with the administration, are working diligently. “But again, it goes up to President Trump,” McGuire added.
McGuire’s comments come as Trump weighs whether to sign a draft memorandum of understanding with Iran that would extend a ceasefire and address Tehran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium. The proposed agreement has drawn scrutiny due to the need for later negotiations on key details involving uranium enrichment and Iran’s nuclear program.
The administration has consistently maintained that Iran must not obtain a nuclear weapon, and Trump recently emphasized that any final deal requires the surrender or destruction of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile—officials claim sufficient for multiple weapons.
McGuire highlighted Operation Midnight Hammer, a U.S. military strike targeting Iranian nuclear facilities, as evidence of progress: “Remember, our incredible men and women in our military had that incredible Operation Midnight Hammer. And what they did is they destroyed Iran’s ability to enrich uranium.”
The Pentagon has stated the operation severely damaged Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, though questions persist about whether portions of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile were relocated prior to the strikes.
During a recent Armed Services Committee hearing, McGuire questioned Secretary of War Pete Hegseth about Iran’s nuclear capabilities. “I asked the Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth,” McGuire said. “‘Is it true Iran has enough uranium to build 11 nuclear bombs?’ And he said, ‘Yes.’”
The congressman argued that Iran’s stockpile poses an immediate threat due to the regime’s expanding ballistic missile program. “And they bring it to the negotiating table every day that they have that much,” McGuire stated.
McGuire also inquired about the potential consequences of a nuclear strike using Iranian missiles: “I said, if they were to use one of those ballistic missiles that we know could reach Paris or London, would it kill 100 people? Would it kill a thousand people, or could it kill a million people?” Hegseth responded that such an attack could kill a million.
McGuire asserted that the danger from Iran’s missile and nuclear programs justified military action and continued pressure on Tehran. “The threat was too great to wait,” he said. “They were building this huge network of ballistic missiles that would have been impenetrable, that would have allowed them to build a nuclear weapon with no one able to stop them.”
Despite regional tensions involving Israel, Hezbollah, and Iran-backed groups, McGuire expressed optimism about Trump’s diplomatic efforts: “I think we’re going to have this 60 days, and President Trump’s leadership is making more progress than any president in my lifetime. But we got to be patient and we got to trust our leadership.”
