Officials in Iran are reconsidering their approach toward incoming U.S. President Donald Trump, shifting from their previously adversarial stance to exploring potential negotiations.
Despite years of hostility toward Trump, including cyberattacks against his campaign and multiple assassination plots, some Iranian leaders are now questioning whether diplomacy might be a better strategy following Trump’s successful bid for a second term. This shift in sentiment is reportedly being discussed in Iranian media and among former government officials.
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“Do not lose this historic opportunity for change in Iran-U.S. relations,” Hamid Aboutalebi, former political adviser to Iran’s government and established politician, wrote in an op-ed, urging Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to congratulate Trump on his presidential win.
This pivot toward potential dialogue marks a significant change in Tehran’s approach. During his first term, Trump withdrew from the Obama-era nuclear agreement in 2018, reimposed tough sanctions on Iran, and ordered the assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in 2020. In response, Iran has openly targeted Trump and called for violence against him, with U.S. authorities recently charging three individuals linked to assassination attempts orchestrated by Iran.
However, Trump’s re-election has sparked fresh discussions in Tehran about the possibility of repairing relations. Iranian officials told NYT that Trump’s reputation as a dealmaker could be advantageous, especially as he solidifies his position as the Republican Party’s leader, suggesting that any agreements made could have lasting impact.
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Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, seen as more moderate than his hardline predecessor, has been urged to take a pragmatic approach. An editorial in the prominent Iranian newspaper Shargh advised Pezeshkian to “avoid past mistakes and adopt a multidimensional policy” in dealing with Trump, according to NYT.
Despite these calls for diplomacy, Pezeshkian’s power is limited. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei holds the ultimate authority in Iran and previously banned officials from negotiating with Trump during his first term. Khamenei’s strong opposition to Trump remains a significant obstacle to any potential diplomatic breakthrough.
Trump’s stance toward Iran is also crucial in shaping future relations. Although Trump has publicly stated that he harbors no ill will toward the Iranian people, he has made it clear that the U.S. will not permit the Islamic Republic to develop a nuclear weapon. During a recent campaign event, Trump suggested that Israel should take decisive action against Iran’s nuclear facilities, saying, “Hit the nuclear sites first and deal with the rest later.”
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Brian Hook, a former Trump adviser on Iran who is now part of the transition team, noted that while Trump does not seek regime change, he views Iran as a primary source of instability in the Middle East.
Iranian officials are now grappling with the realization that their previous belief in a more favorable relationship under a Democratic U.S. president may no longer hold true. With crippling sanctions squeezing Iran’s economy, Tehran appears to be running out of options, making engagement with Trump a potentially viable path forward.
“We do not want more sanctions and more instability. But at the same time, a comprehensive deal with Trump has to give us some wiggle room to save face domestically and justify it,” Rahman Ghahremanpour, a political analyst of Iran, told NYT. “That will be the big challenge.”
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