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Trump-style “Diplomacy”

An exchange between President Trump and Iran on October 6 (reported by Amir Daftari of Newsweek) showed why successful negotiations look improbable at best. 

        At the U.S. Navy’s 250th anniversary in Norfolk, Virginia, Trump praised the June 22 strikes on Iran’s Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. “They were going to have a nuclear weapon within a month. And now they can start the operation all over again, but I hope they don’t because we’ll have to take care of that too if they do. No previous president had the guts to do it,” warning that the U.S. would act even faster if Iran resumed its nuclear program. 

        Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmail Baghaei called Trump’s threat a “criminal and illegal act” that reinforced America’s image as a violator of international law. “It will be clear to the international community and to the Iranian nation that the United States is a law-breaking country.” Baghaei added that Iran has “no plan for negotiations” with Washington.

        And on October 5, Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi told foreign diplomats in Tehran. “Now [E3] have used this lever and seen the results. The three European countries have definitely diminished their role and almost eliminated the justification for negotiations with them.” He added that the European trio “will have a much smaller role than in the past” in any future talks over Iran’s nuclear programme.

        So, who could successfully negotiate a new nuclear deal with Iran? I would like to see a group of NPT non-nuclear weapon States step up and take the lead. 

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