Kay Bailey Hutchison, who was Texas' senator and the U.S. ambassador to NATO, said Monday that President Donald Trump's patience with Iran is "wearing thin."

She said that the Islamic regime continues to make promises it has no intention of keeping while dragging out negotiations.

During an appearance on Newsmax's "Wake Up America," Hutchison said the latest ceasefire has done little to change Iran's behavior and suggested Tehran is simply trying to buy time.

"Obviously, this ceasefire is not really a ceasefire," she said. "You just see Iran continuing to promise and then not deliver, promise and not deliver, promise and not deliver. And I think the president's patience is wearing thin, rightly so."

Hutchison pointed to planned talks in Qatar but questioned whether Iran is genuinely interested in reaching an agreement with the Trump administration.

"Now we're seeing that the meeting will be in Qatar, which is a lot closer to everyone that's involved," she said. "But I think, really, Iran is just playing this game."

Hutchison also addressed reports of growing anti-regime protests inside Iran and opposition forces gathering outside the country's borders, saying a popular uprising would offer the best chance for meaningful political change.

"If there is any hope for an uprising within Iran by the people, that would be, really, I think, a hopeful turn of events," she said. "It's hard to see how the people can do anything, since they're not armed, but that is something that we'll be watching very carefully, obviously."

Asked whether Iran still has the military capability to continue fighting if Trump ultimately decides to take further military action, Hutchison said that the regime has lost much of its offensive power.

"I don't think they have the real ability," she said. "I think they are menacing, but they don't have the capability to actually attack in a meaningful way. I think those assets have been destroyed."

Hutchison said the bigger question is whether Iran's negotiators recognize that Trump has consistently followed through on his warnings and has made clear what he expects from Tehran.

"You just have to keep wondering what the Iranian people that are negotiating are thinking because the president has been so clear that you've got to stop the bombing, you've got to open the straits without fees and different delays," she said.

While expressing hope that the Qatar talks produce progress, Hutchison said expectations should remain modest given Iran's track record.

"I hope that in Qatar — I mean, we all hope this. We just keep saying, 'I hope, I hope, I hope' — but I know everyone's patience is wearing thin, and we all are hoping for the best, but not expecting very much," she said.

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