US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker says Iran is a bankrupt country and will not be able to pay anyone in its military, civil service or government, nor subsidise its society

Says: The people of Iran will not be happy with the current state of affairs and should blame their government and regime, adding they should ask for change and a different way forward. Russia is bogged down right now in Ukraine and cannot make much progress on the front, so its threat to NATO in the near term is low. Russia’s aggressive actions, invasion of Ukraine and prior annexation of Crimea lead the US to believe Russia can be unpredictable and could be willing to take action against a NATO country. Recent statements by Russian President President does not leave him optimistic, adding that Ukraine needs to be able to defend itself as long as it takes until the war can be brought to an end.