By Theodore Bunker | Thursday, 04 June 2026 01:42 PM EDT
State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott said Thursday that the Trump administration remains focused on preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, arguing that recent military operations and ongoing diplomacy are part of a broader strategy to achieve that goal despite questions about the next phase of U.S. policy toward Tehran.
Pigott addressed the House’s passage of a war powers resolution aimed at limiting the president’s authority over military action against Iran, a measure now heading to the Senate.
“I think the secretary addressed this in Congress,” Pigott said. “Ultimately, what we want to see here is a deal, as the president is pursuing, that prevents the Iranian regime from getting a nuclear weapon. But he’s also been clear from the beginning he’s going to see this objective be fulfilled one way or another. It’s too big of a threat to have the Iranian regime have a nuclear weapon.”
The comments come as the Trump administration continues negotiations with Iran following months of conflict and military operations that officials say significantly degraded Tehran’s military capabilities. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has argued in congressional testimony that Iran’s military infrastructure, including missile, naval and drone capabilities, has suffered extensive damage while the administration pursues a diplomatic resolution to the nuclear issue.
Pigott rejected suggestions that the administration’s Iran strategy has stalled following the end of major combat operations.
“The diplomatic door was open,” he said. “We saw Operation Midnight Hammer. The diplomatic door was open again. Operation Epic Fury, with the clear objectives to make sure we’re decimating their defense industrial capacity, their missiles, their air force, and their Navy. Those objectives have largely been fulfilled.”
He said the broader strategic objective remains unchanged.
“Of course, the overall strategic objective of preventing the Iranian regime from having a nuclear weapon is a priority for President Trump,” Pigott said. “The president has a clear strategy, clear on his objectives from the beginning, fundamental of which the Iranian regime cannot have a nuclear weapon.”
Administration officials have maintained that Operation Epic Fury was launched to degrade Iran’s missile capabilities, military infrastructure and ability to pursue a nuclear weapons development.
Pressed on whether Iran can be trusted in negotiations, Pigott said any agreement would be judged by Tehran’s actions rather than its promises.
“It’s about the actions they’re taking,” he said. “Anything that was, is, or is going to be part of this deal is based off of actions that the Iranian regime would take. That, I think, is a key difference here.”
Pigott contrasted the administration’s approach with the Obama-era nuclear agreement, arguing it “didn’t actually address the nuclear threat” and instead “gave them a roadmap to a nuclear weapon.”
He also pointed to the administration’s “maximum pressure” campaign, saying Iran has devoted resources to its nuclear program, ballistic missile development and regional proxy groups rather than domestic priorities.
“They’ve been using their vast wealth not for the benefit of their own people, not for energy infrastructure, water infrastructure, but on a nuclear weapons program, terrorist proxies, and ballistic missile development,” Pigott said. “This is fundamentally about stopping destabilizing activities, fundamental of which the Iranian regime cannot have a nuclear weapon.”
