Jake Sullivan warns a weak Iran will accelerate towards nuclear weapons

The Biden administration has expressed concern that Iran, weakened by regional setbacks, may accelerate efforts to develop a nuclear weapon, according to White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan.

Speaking on Sunday, Sullivan disclosed that he was briefing President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team on the potential threat.

Iran's influence in the region has waned following significant blows to its allies. Israeli strikes have targeted facilities tied to Hamas and Hezbollah, and the recent fall of Syria's Iran-aligned president, Bashar al-Assad, has further eroded Tehran's strategic position. In addition, Israeli assaults on Iranian missile factories and air defenses have weakened its conventional military capabilities, Sullivan told CNN.

“It’s no wonder there are voices [in Iran] saying, ‘Hey, maybe we need to go for a nuclear weapon right now ... Maybe we have to revisit our nuclear doctrine,’” Sullivan said.

Although Iran maintains that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, it has ramped up uranium enrichment since Trump withdrew the U.S. from the 2015 nuclear deal during his first term. The agreement, which included world powers, had placed limits on Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. Sullivan highlighted the risk of Iran abandoning its longstanding commitment not to pursue nuclear weapons.

“This is a risk we are trying to remain vigilant about. It’s a risk I’m personally briefing the incoming team on,” Sullivan said, noting that he had also consulted with Israel on the issue.

As Trump prepares to take office on January 20, he may resume his hardline stance on Iran, including increasing sanctions on its oil industry. Sullivan suggested that Tehran’s current vulnerabilities could open the door to renewed diplomacy.

“Maybe this time, with Iran in a weakened state, there’s an opportunity to achieve a nuclear deal that truly curbs its ambitions for the long term,” he added.

* Reuters contributed to this article.