Retired U.S. Navy Cmdr. Kirk Lippold said Friday that renewed American combat operations against Iran appear increasingly likely, arguing Tehran has shown no willingness to abandon its nuclear program through diplomacy.
Speaking on "America Reports," Lippold said it is now "a matter of not if, but when the United States is going to recommence combat operations."
"The president has given the Iranians every opportunity to come to the right answer through diplomatic channels," Lippold said. "Iran will not give up their nuclear program."
Lippold’s comments came shortly after Secretary of State Marco Rubio said negotiators had seen some progress in talks with Tehran but cautioned that "there’s more work to be done."
"The President would prefer to do a good deal," Rubio said during remarks at a NATO conference in Sweden.
Lippold, the former commanding officer of the USS Cole, suggested President Donald Trump is using ongoing negotiations to give the U.S. military time to "rearm, refuel, and be ready for combat operations."
He also argued the administration should avoid publicly declaring negotiations over in order to avoid giving Iran time to prepare.
The remarks came as Iranian state media reported that negotiators were not discussing Tehran’s nuclear program at the moment, while a Qatari team remained in Tehran to support talks with the United States.
Israel’s military strikes Hezbollah weapons production site in Lebanon
The Israel Defense Forces said it struck an underground Hezbollah weapons production site in Lebanon overnight.
The IDF said the site in the Bekaa Valley “served the organization's terrorists for producing weapons intended to harm the civilians of the State of Israel and IDF forces operating in southern Lebanon.”
“In addition, Hezbollah terror organization infrastructure in the Tyre area was struck, from which the organization's terrorists operated in order to plan and carry out terror attacks against IDF forces,” the IDF also said. “Prior to the strike, steps were taken to reduce harm to civilians, including advance warnings to the population, use of precision munitions, and aerial observations.”
Qatar’s FM tells Iran that any Strait of Hormuz closure will ‘further deepen the crisis’: report
Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani told Iran's foreign minister in a phone call Saturday that any closure of the Strait of Hormuz will “further deepen the crisis” in the region, a report said.
The state-run Qatar News Agency said during the call with Abbas Araghchi, Al-Thani “reaffirmed the State of Qatar's unwavering support for efforts aimed at reaching a comprehensive agreement to end the crisis, stressing the need for all parties to engage constructively in order to secure sustainable peace and enduring stability in the region.”
“His Excellency further emphasized that freedom of navigation remains a fundamental principle that cannot be compromised, warning that any closure of the Strait of Hormuz or attempts to use it as a means of pressure would further deepen the crisis and threaten the vital interests of countries across the region,” it continued.
Al-Thani also “underscored the importance of adhering to international law and the principles of good neighborliness, while prioritizing the interests of the region and its peoples in a way that reinforces regional and international security and stability and advances de-escalation efforts,” according to the report.
The call comes as a Qatari negotiation team is in Tehran on Friday and Saturday "to support the U.S. to reach a final deal that would end the war and address outstanding issues with Iran," an official with knowledge of the visit told Fox News on Friday
