Former national security adviser John Bolton has a warning for anyone watching the U.S.-Iran situation: President Donald Trump's approach might be making things worse, not better. In an opinion piece for The Wall Street Journal on Sunday, Bolton argued that "whatever deal President Trump makes with Iran, his often-contradictory decisions during the conflict have laid the groundwork for more nuclear proliferation in the Middle East."
Bolton's concern isn't just about Iran. He says the real danger is a domino effect: "If the race for nuclear weapons widens and accelerates, the region will become more unstable, heightening risks for the entire world." The logic is straightforward. Gulf Arab states and other regional players are watching the U.S. closely, and they're starting to question whether America can be counted on as a security guarantor. If they can't rely on the U.S., they might decide the only way to protect themselves is to develop their own nuclear capabilities as a hedge against Iran.
Trump, for his part, has been pushing for a negotiated resolution but hasn't been in a hurry to lock down a rapid agreement on Iran's nuclear program. In an NBC interview on Friday, he acknowledged that Iran is resistant to ending the conflict because of national pride, but he insisted they'd eventually have "no choice" but to reach a deal. "They're strong, they're proud," Trump said, adding that Iran would be forced into concessions it "never thought they'd be doing."
The conflict is now in its third month, with missile exchanges between Iran and Israel keeping tensions high. In May, Trump described Iran as "crafty" but said the U.S. held the leverage in talks. Vice President JD Vance noted that enrichment remains the central unresolved issue. Proposed terms for a deal have included a ceasefire extension, access to the Strait of Hormuz, and renewed nuclear negotiations, but uncertainty persists over Iran's enriched uranium stockpile.
Military action has continued alongside diplomacy, including "defensive strikes" in southern Iran, while both sides maintain opposing positions on whether Iran's nuclear program is peaceful. Last week, French President Emmanuel Macron added his voice to the chorus, urging urgent diplomacy after meeting regional leaders. He said it was "essential" that a U.S.-Iran agreement be reached quickly and warned that "this opportunity must be seized now" to prevent further regional instability.
Bolton's piece serves as a stark reminder that even if a deal is reached, the damage to trust and stability might already be done. The question now is whether the U.S. can rebuild that trust before the region's nuclear ambitions spiral out of control.
