Nikki Haley Urges Tougher Action Against Iran, Rejects JD Vance’s Israel Criticism and Rules Out 2028 Run

Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley has urged President Donald Trump to abandon negotiations with Iran and pursue more decisive military action, arguing that prolonged diplomacy has driven up gasoline prices and prolonged the conflict. ⠀ “You cannot negotiate with the Iranian regime. It will never work,” Haley said in an interview with Bloomberg Television’s Balance of Power on Wednesday. She argued that the actual periods of military strikes had been relatively short, while repeated attempts to reach an agreement had dragged on for months. ⠀ Haley said Washington should have acted decisively in June 2025. “We should have gone in. We should have taken care of it. We should have gotten out,” she said, calling further negotiations a “waste of time.” She also argued that the administration should have continued striking Iranian targets rather than allowing Tehran to gain economic leverage. ⠀ Her position put her at odds with Vice President JD Vance, who blamed the Iran war and concerns about U.S.-Israel relations for Republicans’ midterm election losses. Haley called his interpretation “completely misguided,” rejecting the suggestion that Israel was the problem. ⠀ Instead, she pointed to inflation, unaffordable groceries, gasoline and utility bills, rising interest rates and aggressive immigration enforcement. Haley said Immigration and Customs Enforcement had overreached, arguing that the administration had squandered political support for border security. ⠀ Haley also ruled out another presidential campaign in 2028. “I am not going to run in 2028 because I think the storybook is still yet to be determined,” she said, expressing hope that Republicans would emerge stronger from their election defeat. ⠀ The former South Carolina governor challenged Trump for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024 and served as his UN ambassador during his first administration. Her remarks come as Republicans debate the causes of their November losses and the party’s direction after Trump.