A pending nuclear agreement with Iran would differ significantly from the Obama administration's 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), by emphasizing stricter verification measures and sanctions relief tied to Iranian compliance, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said Sunday.
"The highly enriched uranium has to go. Their enrichment capabilities, they have to walk away from. Their support for terrorist proxies has to end," Waltz said on ABC News' "This Week."
Waltz said any sanctions relief under the agreement would be provided on a "pay-for-performance" basis rather than through upfront concessions. He contrasted the proposal with the JCPOA, criticizing what he described as loopholes in the earlier agreement's inspection regime.
"This is all about verification," Waltz said, adding that the administration would not rely solely on Iranian assurances but would seek stronger inspection mechanisms.
Host Martha Raddatz noted that sanctions relief under the JCPOA came only after Iran took verified steps to implement the agreement.
Waltz responded that the previous deal's verification standards were insufficient and allowed Iran to evade oversight.
Waltz also rejected suggestions that the administration had relied on military pressure rather than diplomacy to advance negotiations.
"This president has always put diplomacy first, but unlike his predecessors, it has to be backed with credible military force," he said.
Asked whether the agreement would be finalized on Sunday, Waltz said President Donald Trump intends to complete the deal but acknowledged negotiations have been difficult.
"The Iranians are incredibly difficult negotiators," Waltz said, adding that internal divisions within Iran's leadership have complicated talks.
While declining to discuss specific details of the negotiations, Waltz said he remained confident the agreement would be completed.
He described the proposed accord as a memorandum of understanding and said additional details would be negotiated in future rounds of talks.
Waltz also accused Iran of destabilizing the Middle East through support for groups including Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis, and said Gulf Arab allies support the administration's approach.
Addressing reports that Iran could seek to charge tolls for shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, Waltz called the idea "completely unacceptable" and a violation of international law.
"It's completely unacceptable and frankly illegal in international law behavior," he said.
Waltz also pointed to the administration's sanctions campaign against Iran, saying economic pressure had weakened the country's finances and contributed to its willingness to negotiate.