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Iran has recently indicated a willingness to negotiate with the United States, suggesting that they are open to discussing their nuclear program if the U.S. agrees to ease its sanctions. This comes from a nation widely recognized as the leading state sponsor of Islamic terrorism, now attempting to persuade America to reduce its pressure.
Consider me doubtful.
Iran is likely hoping for a complete lifting of all sanctions, but their expectations and the actual outcome could differ significantly. Unlike a previous administration known for sending pallets of cash to Iran, President Trump is unlikely to offer such concessions.
This appears to be an opportune moment to increase pressure on Iran, a strategy the president seems to be considering.
We can speculate that a significant part of this strategy might involve exerting pressure on Iran’s leadership, similar to the approach taken with Venezuela’s Maduro.
“We are ready to discuss this and other issues related to our program if they are ready to talk about sanctions,” Takht-Ravanchi told the BBC Sunday.
Takht-Ravanchi didn’t specify how much relief Iran would expect in order to make concessions on its atomic program.
How much relief Iran would expect is likely a complete and total cessation of all sanctions. But what Iran expects and what they get may be two very different things. It’s not as though President Trump is going to authorize sending them pallets loaded with American currency, as one former president is known to have done.
It would seem that this is the time to squeeze Iran until it cracks, and that looks to be what the president is contemplating.
Trump, who claimed that the US “completely and totally obliterated” Tehran’s key nuclear facilities during the Operation Midnight Hammer bombing this past June, has refused to rule out military force if a deal is not reached.
“It seems like that would be the best thing that could happen,” Trump told reporters Friday when asked about the possibility of regime change in Iran.
When asked if the US could target the Tehran regime’s nuclear sites again, Trump replied, “If we do it, that would be the least of the mission.”
We can very well guess what most of the mission might be, including the ruling caste of Iran being Maduroed.