To talk or not to talk? This is the slogan that’s doing the rounds among the Islamic Republic of Iran’s politicians, hardliner and reformist. Donald Trump has made it clear he hopes that Iran might abandon their nuclear programme through a deal with Washington. This will, the President said, lessen the need for Israeli bombs to achieve the same end. Yet for all the attention on Trump’s appointees to Pentagon, State Department and White House roles, perhaps when it comes to Iran, we can infer more by looking at those left out in the cold: Mike Pompeo, John Bolton and former Trump 1.0 Iran Envoy, Brian Hook, all of whom were Iran hawks to their bones, who sought to pressure Trump into adopting a particular policy when it came to Tehran. They have paid a price for their stridency. The current coalition of Middle East advisors, from Pentagon to White House to State, span the arc from Dove to Hawk, suggesting that Trump, above all else, simply wants to keep his options open, with talking being his first instinct.
There are voices in Tehran clamouring for a way out of this never-ending cycle of inflation, unemployment and global isolation
All we can glean so far, from what we’ve heard, is that a deal is desirable.
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