Trita Parsi

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.

Now they have shifted their position. And I think a key reason as to why they're shifting their position is because they recognize... Secondary sanctions relief, meaning lifting the sanctions on Europeans and Chinese, etc., actually doesn't work. Most companies will not go into the Iranian market unless they know that they're not doing anything differently from what American companies are doing.

Now they have shifted their position. And I think a key reason as to why they're shifting their position is because they recognize... Secondary sanctions relief, meaning lifting the sanctions on Europeans and Chinese, etc., actually doesn't work. Most companies will not go into the Iranian market unless they know that they're not doing anything differently from what American companies are doing.

Now they have shifted their position. And I think a key reason as to why they're shifting their position is because they recognize... Secondary sanctions relief, meaning lifting the sanctions on Europeans and Chinese, etc., actually doesn't work. Most companies will not go into the Iranian market unless they know that they're not doing anything differently from what American companies are doing.

Because they know that if American companies are in the Iranian market, the likelihood that the Europeans eventually would get sanctioned is far less. Now, what's interesting with all of this is that Trump is the kind of president that actually cares about this. He wants to expand American markets. This would never have worked with Biden. And it didn't work with Obama.