The new US administration and the approach to Iran

2024-11-30 21:30:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Iran is expected to be high on the foreign policy agenda of the incoming Trump administration. The Islamic Republic has been embroiled in conflict with the US's main ally in the Middle East, Israel, while at the same time advancing its nuclear program. VOA Correspondent Michael Lipin analyzes what is expected to happen during President-elect Donald Trump's administration regarding Iran.

During the campaign for the presidential election this year, Mr. Trump in his comments maintained a conciliatory approach to Iran, an adversary of the United States, which during his first term as President he imposed economic sanctions and kept under military pressure .

"I don't want to be bad with Iran. I hope we will be friendly with Iran. Maybe. Maybe not. But they cannot have a nuclear weapon. They will never have a nuclear weapon," Mr. Trump declared during the presidential campaign.

Iran's Islamist leaders warned this year that they could abandon a pledge not to develop nuclear weapons if there was an external threat to their survival.

In his first term, Mr Trump withdrew from a 2015 deal Iran struck with world powers to curb its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. Mr Trump said he wanted a new deal that would be tougher on Tehran. During September a reporter asked him if he still wanted to negotiate with Iran.

"Of course I would. We must make an agreement, because there will be consequences", he declared.

In October, Mr Trump was asked in an interview whether he wanted to see Iran's Islamist leaders replaced by the monarchy they overthrew in 1979.

"We cannot be involved in these developments", declared Mr. Trump.

The president-elect of the United States reacted strongly to Iran's October 1 ballistic missile attack on Israel. As an example, he mentioned President Joe Biden's statements that Israel should not strike Iranian nuclear facilities in response.

"I think he is wrong. The answer should have been: hit nuclear facilities first, then other targets."

During his first term, Mr. Trump imposed sanctions on Iran that targeted oil exports. Also, a US airstrike in Baghdad eliminated the top military commander, Qassem Soleimani.

During the presidential campaign, Mr. Trump did not say whether he would use the same policies against Iran. But his nominee for Secretary of State, Senator Marco Rubio, is a strong supporter of this approach to Iran.

In a post on the X social network, Mr. Rubio said that "only through maximum pressure and direct and disproportionate measures is there an opportunity to change their criminal actions."

Meanwhile, the US Department of Justice said it had uncovered an Iranian plot to recruit an Afghan national to carry out an assassination attempt on Mr Trump before Election Day.

Tehran denied involvement. But Mr Trump's pick for national security adviser said Iran must face consequences.

"We must send a strong and clear message that this is a red line that will never be tolerated for all of our opponents and that will have major consequences. We need to restore deterrence," said Michael Waltz, a Republican lawmaker.

What is not known about President-elect Trump's approach to Iran is what kind of new deal he will seek and what he will do if he can't get one./ VOA