Former Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie expressed skepticism Saturday that ongoing negotiations over Iran's nuclear program will result in a lasting agreement, arguing Tehran has historically used talks to delay concessions while preserving what it sees as a critical deterrent.
Speaking on Newsmax's "Saturday Agenda," Wilkie said Iran's leadership has long demonstrated a willingness to endure significant hardship and make strategic calculations aimed at preserving the regime.
"I mean, these are people who sent tens of thousands of children, some as young as 10, charging through minefields in the Iran-Iraq War, telling their parents that these children would be martyrs and accepted into heaven," Wilkie said.
Wilkie also criticized the Iranian government over its treatment of its own citizens and accused Tehran of repeatedly altering the terms of negotiations.
"They killed 45,000 of their own people just in January," Wilkie said.
"They stretch out negotiations. They always add new conditions at the last minute."
His comments come as international attention remains focused on efforts to reach an agreement limiting Iran's nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief and other incentives.
The future of those talks remains uncertain amid longstanding distrust between Tehran and Western governments.
The United States and Iran on Saturday appeared close to a deal that would end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that a deal aimed at ending the war in the Middle East is closer than ever before and expected to be finalized within 24 hours.
Pakistan is preparing for the electronic signing of the agreement, followed by technical-level talks next week.
President Donald Trump said the deal was "scheduled to get signed tomorrow" and that the Strait of Hormuz would open immediately.
But Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson said no signing would occur Sunday and left the possibility open for the coming days.
Previous declarations of an imminent breakthrough failed to materialize.
Wilkie said any potential agreement should be closely scrutinized, arguing that Iran's leaders may view a nuclear capability as essential to the regime's survival.
"The reason we need to see the fine print is that, look, they know what happened to Ukraine once Ukraine gave up its nuclear weapons — the wolf was at the door," Wilkie said.
He also pointed to the fate of former Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, who abandoned Libya's nuclear weapons program in the early 2000s.
"They know what happened to Gadhafi once he told the Bush administration, 'You can have my nuclear capability,'" Wilkie said.
"He ended up in a ditch with a bullet in his temple," he said.
According to Wilkie, Iranian leaders have historically viewed the pursuit of nuclear capabilities as a safeguard against foreign threats.
"They've always viewed that nuclear genie as their one way to survive, no matter what the United States or Israel did to them," he said.
Wilkie also questioned who is directing Iran's negotiating strategy, suggesting uncertainty over whether diplomats in the country's Foreign Ministry or hardline elements within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps hold the greatest influence.
"We really need to see," Wilkie said.
"We don't know who's negotiating — the smooth actors in the Foreign Ministry or the dead-enders in the IRGC."
The comments underscore continuing debate among U.S. policymakers and analysts over the prospects for a diplomatic breakthrough with Iran and the durability of any agreement that may emerge.
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