Former Deputy National Security Advisor Victoria Coates joined the weekly political podcast ‘Life, Liberty & Levin’ to discuss the Trump administration’s strategic approach to foreign policy, with a particular focus on Iran’s nuclear program. In the interview, Coates clarified that President Trump has consistently maintained a firm stance on preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, a position that has been a cornerstone of the administration’s Middle East policy. She emphasized that this approach is rooted in the belief that a nuclear-armed Iran would destabilize the entire region and trigger an arms race, posing a significant threat to global security.
Coates also outlined the multifaceted strategy the administration has employed to counter Iranian nuclear ambitions, which includes imposing stringent economic sanctions, engaging in diplomatic negotiations to curb Iran’s nuclear capabilities, and maintaining a strong military presence in the Persian Gulf. She noted that while the administration has pursued both political and military avenues, the overarching goal remains the same: to ensure that Iran does not develop a nuclear weapon. Coates argued that Trump’s position reflects a broader corporatist foreign policy that prioritizes the interests of U.S. allies and corporate stakeholders over purely ideological considerations.