Trita Parsi

If Trump can get this done, and I actually believe that he can, if the focus remains on this issue, if the focus then goes off to missiles or other things, the bans that are coming from the Israelis, et cetera, then this thing can very quickly go off rail.

And then unfortunately, we will likely have a war.

I don't think the president's intention is to do something that spreads in any way, shape or form.

I think it's quite clear that he wants to have clean, quick, glorious victories.

But I don't see that happening in this situation.

The Iranians will very likely respond.

This is part of the reason why we have so many assets in the region right now, because they have made it clear that they will respond.

And I think the escalatory risk here is just so massive.

that it would be very dangerous to go down that path.

I see it as a lose-lose situation.

Yes, undoubtedly, the United States is the far more powerful party here, but it doesn't mean that the Iranians cannot inflict tremendous amount of damage onto the United States, which at the end of the day would cause this whole thing to end up becoming a losing thing for Donald Trump as well.

So I think the best thing is to avoid it.

And the fact that these talks are continuing, seem to be getting more serious, is in and of itself a positive sign.

Bottom line is none of these sides trust the other.

The Iranians don't trust the US either.

And they have their reasons.

And the US, of course, has its reason not to trust Iranians.

That's why you need a deal in which you have verification as a very integral part of the deal.

That's also why you need to make sure that a lot of things are not given up front in return for things that are given later on by the other side.

And it's part of the reason the Iranians probably will not accept that the sanctions relief will come