The Inside Story Podcast Can the US really strike a deal with Tehran?
Mar 9, 2025
Hamid Reza Gholamzadeh, Director of the House of Diplomacy in Tehran, and Ali Vaez, Director of the Iran Project at the International Crisis Group, offer sharp insights into the fraught landscape of U.S.-Iran relations. They dissect Iran's firm stance against negotiations under pressure and the implications of escalating uranium enrichment. The duo discusses America's shifting negotiation tactics and skepticism towards diplomatic engagement, while highlighting Iran's reluctance to trust past overtures, unraveling the complexities of a potential nuclear deal.
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Conflicting Objectives
- Trump wants a mutually beneficial deal with Iran, but his administration doesn't share that objective.
- Some seek containment, while others seek capitulation, creating a policy divide.
Iranian Perspective on Trump's Offer
- Iran perceives Trump's offer as a media ploy to pressure them into negotiations.
- They view the simultaneous threats and lack of incentives as bullying tactics.
Trump's Unconventional Diplomacy
- Trump's unconventional approach to international relations involves direct engagement, even with adversaries.
- His willingness to negotiate with North Korea and Iran demonstrates this.