Lead
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has reiterated the Trump administration's firm stance on Iran, warning that an escalating conflict "won't work well" for Tehran. Speaking to The Jerusalem Post, Huckabee addressed topics ranging from nuclear weapons to the Lebanon memorandum, while also weighing in on the prospects of regime change in Iran and the situation in southern Lebanon.
Coverage Comparison
Huckabee's comments were reported across two separate interviews with The Jerusalem Post, published on July 1 and July 9, 2026. In the earlier interview, he dismissed the idea that Washington sees a new pragmatic leadership emerging in Tehran. In the later one, he said he had no updates on potential US strikes on Iran but emphasized that the Iranian regime should not be overconfident about its ability to make a larger conflict "work well" for them.
Key Claims
Nuclear Commitment Unchanged
Huckabee made clear that President Trump remains committed to preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. "President Trump's been incredibly clear that he'll stay with his commitment that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon," he said. "They're not going to be able to be a continued threat to Israel and the United States."
No Pragmatic Shift in Tehran
Asked whether recent statements by US officials had raised concern in Israel that Washington's approach to Iran may have changed, particularly regarding the possibility that "pragmatic new guys" in the Iranian leadership could alter the regime's course, Huckabee was dismissive. "I don't think we're seeing a change of attitude," he told the Post.
Peaceful Agreement Sought
Huckabee said the administration hoped for a peaceful agreement that would lead the Iranian regime to change its ambitions. However, he noted that President Trump has kept pressure on the table. "If not, the President has made it clear," Huckabee said, adding that Trump "keeps all of his" options open.
Harsh Assessment of Regime
In other comments, Huckabee stated that the Iranian regime has proven itself to be "not serious people when it comes to making peace" and has "not decided to behave like civilized people." He made these remarks despite noting that the regime has had ample opportunities to broker an agreement with the US.
Regime Change Up to the People
Regarding regime change in Tehran, Huckabee said that, as far as he knew, there had been no decision about pursuing it from outside. "Ultimately up to the Iranian people whether there's going to be a regime change, not to outside forces as much," he said.
Lebanon Memorandum and Hezbollah
Huckabee also discussed the Lebanon memorandum, saying it prevented Iran from dominating the diplomatic process between Israel and Lebanon. The agreement, he said, reflected a shared understanding by both countries that the central threat in the north is Hezbollah. He affirmed Israel's right to act against Hezbollah threats, saying that right to defend itself has been accepted by both sides.
Southern Lebanon Withdrawal
On the topic of the IDF's potential withdrawal from southern Lebanon, Huckabee indicated that it would not be able to withdraw until the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) reclaim and assert control over the areas where Hezbollah remains active.