Bloomberg Talks Senator Jeanne Shaheen Talks Foreign Relations and Rare Earth Minerals
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Feb 6, 2026 
Jeanne Shaheen, U.S. Senator from New Hampshire and key voice on foreign relations and critical minerals policy. She discusses diplomacy versus military action, who should represent the U.S. in sensitive talks, the strategic need to process rare earths domestically, and proposed reforms for ICE and DHS funding.
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Talks Better Than War
- Jeanne Shaheen stresses negotiations with Iran are preferable to military conflict and offers cautious optimism about talks in Amman.
- She warns Iran's nuclear progress and regional terrorist support make successful diplomacy crucial for global security.
Credible Voices At Indirect Talks
- Shaheen supports having credible U.S. representatives close to the president in indirect talks with Iran to ensure effective negotiation.
- She names Steve Whitcoff and Jared Kushner as credible interlocutors while hoping for State Department backup.
Processing, Not Just Mining, Is The Risk
- Shaheen highlights that 90% of rare earth processing occurs in China, creating strategic vulnerability for the U.S.
- She frames domestic processing as essential for everything from appliances to missiles and national security.