UN ambassador Waltz says US has ‘best chance’ to break Hezbollah grip on Lebanon
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US Ambassador to the UN Michael Waltz said on Saturday on “My Interview with Lara Trump” that the Trump administration has created “the best chance in our lifetime” to break Hezbollah’s dominance over Lebanon, arguing that Iran and its proxies are on the defensive after a series of aggressive moves by the US.
Waltz expressed hope for peace, noting recent developments including Lebanon’s political alignment under President Joseph Aoun “who is trying to do the right thing,” Israel’s military crackdown on Hezbollah, and the first-ever direct talks between Lebanon and Israel.
A woman waves a Hezbollah flag as people travel south near Saida, Lebanon, on April 17, 2026, the first day after a 10-day ceasefire between Israeli forces and Hezbollah came into effect. (Adri Salido/Getty Images)
“I think we can take full advantage of this [these conditions] and finally return this region to the peaceful Abraham Accords of President Trump’s first term,” he said.
“Getting rid of Iran and its treacherous and malicious attacks throughout the region, including trying to assassinate President Trump in his own home, will finally allow us to focus elsewhere in the world and return to the extension of the Abraham Accords.”
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A woman walks past a billboard showing a military hand holding the Strait of Hormuz with Persian text reading “Forever in Iranian hands”, “Trump could not do anything”, “Control of the Strait of Hormuz will be Iran’s forever” in Vanak Square in northern Iran on April 16, 2026. (Vahid Salemi/AP)
The ambassador said President Donald Trump was “playing chess while the rest of the world is playing checkers,” praising his Iran strategy and dismissing concerns about his rhetoric.
“I was just in the Senate this week. And, you know, critics were shaking their hands over some bad tweets and maybe an F-bomb from the president. But you know what? How about a regime that screams ‘Death to America’ at every opportunity?”
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“And you know what? It worked. It brought them back to the table,” he said.
Still, it is unclear whether Iran is willing to negotiate. Waltz said Iran’s foreign ministry was in conflict with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
“The foreign minister says [the Strait of Hormuz] open. IRGC says it is closed. Regardless, it’s ultimately up to the U.S. Navy and President Trump as commander-in-chief to decide what goes in and out. And I think the big picture here is that the Iranian regime cannot hold the entire world economy hostage,” Waltz said in an interview on “Meet the Press” on Sunday.
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“They cannot impose collective punishment because of the disagreement over the nuclear program,” he continued.
Fox News Digital’s Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report.
