Trita Parsi

And if this issue isn't resolved, mindful of how far the Iranians advanced their program, this is going to lead to some sort of a military confrontation. And Trump also wants to leave the Middle East militarily. He doesn't want to have 50,000 troops there. And a key factor that has kept the U.S. in the region is the enmity between the United States and Iran.

And if this issue isn't resolved, mindful of how far the Iranians advanced their program, this is going to lead to some sort of a military confrontation. And Trump also wants to leave the Middle East militarily. He doesn't want to have 50,000 troops there. And a key factor that has kept the U.S. in the region is the enmity between the United States and Iran.

If that can be pacified, it also paves the way for American troops to be able to come back home.

If that can be pacified, it also paves the way for American troops to be able to come back home.

If that can be pacified, it also paves the way for American troops to be able to come back home.

Well, when Trump summoned Netanyahu to the White House, Netanyahu pushed for what he called the Libya-style solution, which means that the entire nuclear program would be destroyed and dismantled. This is what Libyan dictator Qaddafi did. And of course, eight or so years later, he was disposed. So the very idea that that would be an attractive option for the Iranians somewhat laughable.

Well, when Trump summoned Netanyahu to the White House, Netanyahu pushed for what he called the Libya-style solution, which means that the entire nuclear program would be destroyed and dismantled. This is what Libyan dictator Qaddafi did. And of course, eight or so years later, he was disposed. So the very idea that that would be an attractive option for the Iranians somewhat laughable.

Well, when Trump summoned Netanyahu to the White House, Netanyahu pushed for what he called the Libya-style solution, which means that the entire nuclear program would be destroyed and dismantled. This is what Libyan dictator Qaddafi did. And of course, eight or so years later, he was disposed. So the very idea that that would be an attractive option for the Iranians somewhat laughable.

Netanyahu is pushing this line precisely because he knows it won't work, but it will leave Trump in a position in which he will have to escalate after he has failed. But Trump seems to recognize this, and he has decided not to go down this path. He keeps on saying his only red line is no nuclear weapons.

Netanyahu is pushing this line precisely because he knows it won't work, but it will leave Trump in a position in which he will have to escalate after he has failed. But Trump seems to recognize this, and he has decided not to go down this path. He keeps on saying his only red line is no nuclear weapons.

Netanyahu is pushing this line precisely because he knows it won't work, but it will leave Trump in a position in which he will have to escalate after he has failed. But Trump seems to recognize this, and he has decided not to go down this path. He keeps on saying his only red line is no nuclear weapons.

And you can achieve that much easier, actually, by having a verification program, a deal that is... based on inspections, restrictions and verification that ensures that the Iranians simply cannot build it. And you don't have to go to war. And Trump doesn't want to go to war. And rightly so, in my view, a war with Iran would be a disaster for the region, for Iran, but also for the United States.

And you can achieve that much easier, actually, by having a verification program, a deal that is... based on inspections, restrictions and verification that ensures that the Iranians simply cannot build it. And you don't have to go to war. And Trump doesn't want to go to war. And rightly so, in my view, a war with Iran would be a disaster for the region, for Iran, but also for the United States.

And you can achieve that much easier, actually, by having a verification program, a deal that is... based on inspections, restrictions and verification that ensures that the Iranians simply cannot build it. And you don't have to go to war. And Trump doesn't want to go to war. And rightly so, in my view, a war with Iran would be a disaster for the region, for Iran, but also for the United States.

the Iranians are saying that their economy is not closed to American companies because of Iranian decisions, but because of sanctions. That's up until recently, not entirely true.

the Iranians are saying that their economy is not closed to American companies because of Iranian decisions, but because of sanctions. That's up until recently, not entirely true.

the Iranians are saying that their economy is not closed to American companies because of Iranian decisions, but because of sanctions. That's up until recently, not entirely true.

Hardliners in Iran could live with a nuclear deal, they could live with a deal with the United States, but they did not want to see American companies entering the Iranian market because they feared, perhaps quite correctly, that once American companies are in Iran, there would also be some degree of American influence in Iran. And eventually, the hardliners would lose control over power.

Hardliners in Iran could live with a nuclear deal, they could live with a deal with the United States, but they did not want to see American companies entering the Iranian market because they feared, perhaps quite correctly, that once American companies are in Iran, there would also be some degree of American influence in Iran. And eventually, the hardliners would lose control over power.

Hardliners in Iran could live with a nuclear deal, they could live with a deal with the United States, but they did not want to see American companies entering the Iranian market because they feared, perhaps quite correctly, that once American companies are in Iran, there would also be some degree of American influence in Iran. And eventually, the hardliners would lose control over power.