U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matt Whitaker made it clear that President Donald Trump has drawn firm lines for Iran, and what happens next depends entirely on Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Speaking Saturday on The Big Weekend Show, Whitaker said Trump has been direct and unmistakable: Iran must not obtain a nuclear weapon and must stop killing protesters in its own streets. According to Whitaker, that is the president’s red line—simple, clear, and hard to misread.

Whitaker described the American naval fleet positioned near Iran as both a powerful show of force and an opportunity for de-escalation. He called the armada an “off ramp,” explaining that Iran could easily reduce tensions by abandoning its nuclear ambitions and halting its violent crackdown on protesters. In his words, the Iranians “could de-escalate very easily and simply.” He added, “The ball is in their court,” while reminding viewers that President Trump “is not going to be forever patient.” Translation: clock’s ticking.

The ambassador also stressed that Trump’s goal is not to destabilize Iran, despite reports suggesting the president may be considering military action. Trump himself said Saturday that he believes Tehran is negotiating “seriously” with the United States and that he hopes an “acceptable” deal can be reached. In other words, diplomacy is still on the table—just not the kind that drags on forever while nothing changes.

Complicating matters, Iran’s parliament speaker said Sunday that the Islamic Republic now considers all European Union militaries to be terrorist groups. This came after the EU designated Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terror organization over its suppression of nationwide protests. The move has raised concerns that Iran could strike U.S. NATO allies if America attacks again, following Operation Midnight Hammer in June, which targeted Iranian nuclear facilities.

For now, Trump has made his position crystal clear: no nuclear weapons and no more violence against protesters. Iran has a choice—de-escalate or escalate. Either way, the message from Washington is firm, focused, and backed by action. And if there’s one thing President Trump has shown, it’s that strength paired with clear terms is the fastest path to real results.