UN envoy Mike Waltz dismisses reports of arms shortage amid Iran war, says US remains ‘locked and loaded’ | Today’s news
US President Donald Trump is giving diplomatic efforts with Iran more time to make progress as Washington suspends military strikes against Tehran for a second straight day, US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said on Sunday.
Waltz said the U.S. remains prepared for further military action, but is allowing negotiations to continue as part of efforts to restore a temporary ceasefire between the two sides.
“Trump is giving the talks some space — giving it some space,” Waltz told Fox News.
The comments came after the US military halted attacks on Iran after nearly two weeks of escalation triggered by attacks linked to tensions around the Strait of Hormuz.
The US is still ready for further action
Waltz emphasized that the pause does not mean that Washington is retreating from its military position.
“The United States remains locked and loaded,” he said, adding that additional military assets had been moved to the region.
Appearing on NBC’s Meet the Press, Waltz dismissed reports that the U.S. military is curtailing the use of weapons due to concerns about depleted supplies.
“The U.S. military — and I’ve verified this in every way — has everything it needs to conduct this campaign as effectively as it needs to,” he said.
Waltz also rejected claims that the lack of anti-missile missiles was affecting US operations.
“The people who spread this nonsense deserve to be in jail,” he added.
Diplomatic pressure to renew the ceasefire
Both the US and Iran have suspended attacks as diplomatic efforts continue to bring the two sides back to negotiating an interim ceasefire agreement.
It remains unclear why Washington halted the strikes after targeting Iran’s coastal areas and infrastructure for nearly two weeks. The Pentagon has not publicly explained the decision.
Waltz said talks involving Iran, Oman and other negotiators are continuing at several levels.
“We have engaged both Oman and Iran and a number of our other negotiators at all levels, from the highest levels to the technical level,” he said.
The key issue remains the Strait of Hormuz
The 60-day interim deal signed in mid-June is now in its later stages, but major issues – including Iran’s nuclear program – remain unresolved.
The focus of the negotiations remains the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy transport routes.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said that Tehran’s negotiations with Oman to ensure the safe passage of ships have progressed.
However, Iran insisted that the status of the waterway remained unchanged and claimed it had the right to control shipping lanes through the strait.
The US continues to push for restrictions on Iran’s naval activities. The US military said its naval blockade against Iran remained active and several merchant vessels had been diverted or boarded.
Regional risks are growing beyond the borders of Hormuz
Concerns have also spread to the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a key shipping route connecting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen recently threatened a blockade targeting Saudi-linked shipping, raising concerns about global energy supplies and economic stability.
Rising tensions have already pushed up fuel prices and raised fears of further disruption to international markets.
Read also | Zelenskyy will meet with Trump in the US next week to renew efforts at negotiations
Netanyahu supports Trump’s diplomatic approach
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is due to meet Trump in Washington on Tuesday (28 July) as Iran remains a central issue on the agenda.
Netanyahu said he supported Trump’s efforts to pressure Tehran and prevent Iran from pursuing its nuclear program.
“I fully support Trump’s efforts to weaken Iran and urge it to end its nuclear program,” Netanyahu told Fox News.
“If he can do it without going back into intense military combat, that’s fine. Why not?” he added.
Netanyahu said he would use the meeting to hear Trump’s strategy rather than present new intelligence.
“I think it’s good to have the opportunity to sit down with our good friend President Trump and hear what he has in mind because I think in many ways it’s his decision,” he said.
However, Netanyahu warned Iran against any future attacks on Israel, either directly or through allied groups.
“If Iran attacks Israel, either directly or through proxies, it will make a terrible mistake,” Netanyahu said.
The Trump-Netanyahu meeting is expected to focus on Iran’s nuclear ambitions, regional security and whether diplomacy can prevent renewed military escalation.
Read also | Trump-Netanyahu Meeting: 4 Key Issues to Watch
