After months of home unrest, international sanctions, and military setbacks, US President Donald Trump said on Friday that Iran’s vulnerabilities could make it more open to discussion. He claims that politics is the way he prefers, but he warned Iran that if negotiations fail, there is “great danger.”
Trump reiterated that the Islamic Republic has never acquire nuclear weapons while speaking on Air Force One, saying that Iran is” a wonderful, wonderful, happy country.”
Deals are scheduled to start in Muscat, where Trump’s vice president of international affairs Abbas Araghchi and Iran’s assistant foreign minister Abbas Araghchi may be present. Since Iran has argued that simply facilitated discussions will be on the table, it is questionable whether the discussions will be face-to-face or in-person.
The discussions occur at a time when Iran is facing significant difficulties. Israel’s attacks have caused setbacks for its substitute organizations, including Hamas and Hezbollah. Houthi militants supported by Iran have also been the targets of US attacks in Yemen. Israeli forces have attacked Egyptian defense installations, including those that have nuclear links. One of Tehran’s closest friends, President Bashar al-Assad, was removed from power in Syria in December.
Iran’s economy is still under pressure from years of punishment, and the US Treasury only added fresh ones this year. Iran does not stop enriching uranium well beyond the boundaries of the 2015 nuclear agreement, and professionals warn that it has enough material for a number of nuclear weapons.
Trump claims that he wants Iran’s nuclear arsenal completely destroyed, but both he and his advisers have shown some freedom. Trump appears to favor a more focused agreement, one that stops Iran from destroying its atomic material, without actually putting an end to the entire program, despite Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu calling for a deal in the vein of Libya.
