Renewed Debate in Iran over Normalization of Ties with US

A consultative meeting, headed by Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, held in Tehran last week. Former FM Ali Akbar Salehi is seen on the far left. (Iranian Foreign Ministry)
A consultative meeting, headed by Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, held in Tehran last week. Former FM Ali Akbar Salehi is seen on the far left. (Iranian Foreign Ministry)
TT

Renewed Debate in Iran over Normalization of Ties with US

A consultative meeting, headed by Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, held in Tehran last week. Former FM Ali Akbar Salehi is seen on the far left. (Iranian Foreign Ministry)
A consultative meeting, headed by Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, held in Tehran last week. Former FM Ali Akbar Salehi is seen on the far left. (Iranian Foreign Ministry)

The official Iranian newspaper strongly criticized a proposal by former Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi to engage in comprehensive political dialogue with the West, including the US, to end the diplomatic estrangement and normalize relations after nearly 44 years.

In an extensive interview with the Entekhab website, which is closely affiliated with the team of former President Hassan Rouhani, Salehi stated that Iran has engaged in negotiations with the US on specific issues amid the challenges between the two nations.

He pointed to Iranian-US dialogues concerning Afghanistan, Iraq, prisoner exchanges, and the nuclear agreement.

However, Salehi emphasized that Tehran and Washington have not entered comprehensive and wide-ranging political negotiations covering other aspects.

Salehi had played a prominent role in leading the nuclear negotiations during the final months of his tenure as the Minister of Foreign Affairs under the rule of former conservative President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Afterward, he assumed the presidency of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran at the beginning of Rouhani’s term in office.

He oversaw the transition of the previously secret nuclear talks, facilitated by Oman, into the public domain within the framework of the P5+1 in 2013. These negotiations culminated in the landmark nuclear agreement in 2105 after two years of deliberations.

“Given the regional and international circumstances, we have a good and opportune chance to engage in comprehensive political dialogue with the West, including the US and Europe,” said Salehi.

He pointed out that “relations between Iran and the US have been influenced by negative factors between the two countries for over 44 years.”

“Throughout these years, our relations have not been favorable and have been negative since the beginning of the revolution,” said Salehi about the revolt that toppled the Shah’s regime in 1979.

While referring to the suffering of Iranians due to the deteriorating living conditions over the past 44 years, Salehi attributed the economic downturn to “inefficiency in various administrative sectors.”

He also stated that “a significant portion of the current state of the country is a result of sanctions.”

“Due to the political situation and the challenges between us and the West, particularly the US, they exert pressure on us in any way possible,” noted Salehi.

He noted that his country has received recommendations from Russia and China regarding the need to regulate relations with the US “to resolve the issues” that are hindering Iran from expanding cooperation with Moscow and Beijing.

“In the face of these circumstances and economic conditions, we cannot establish relations with major banks in the world,” commented Salehi.

“Everything becomes costly for us, and we have needs that must be met from abroad because we cannot easily do so,” he added.

“We buy goods at multiple times their original prices,” he remarked, indirectly alluding to the repercussions of circumventing US sanctions.



Trump Selects $175-Billion Golden Dome Defense Shield Design, Appoints Leader 

US President Donald Trump makes an announcement about the Golden Dome missile defense shield in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, May 20, 2025. (AFP) 
US President Donald Trump makes an announcement about the Golden Dome missile defense shield in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, May 20, 2025. (AFP) 
TT

Trump Selects $175-Billion Golden Dome Defense Shield Design, Appoints Leader 

US President Donald Trump makes an announcement about the Golden Dome missile defense shield in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, May 20, 2025. (AFP) 
US President Donald Trump makes an announcement about the Golden Dome missile defense shield in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, May 20, 2025. (AFP) 

US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he had selected a design for the $175-billion Golden Dome missile defense shield and named a Space Force general to head the ambitious program aimed at blocking threats from China and Russia.

Trump told a White House press conference that US Space Force General Michael Guetlein would be the lead program manager for an effort widely viewed as the keystone to Trump's military planning.

Golden Dome will “protect our homeland,” the US President said, adding that Canada had said it wanted to be part of it.

In a statement, the office of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he and his ministers were discussing a new security and economic relationship with their American counterparts.

“These discussions naturally include strengthening NORAD and related initiatives such as the Golden Dome,” it added, according to Reuters.

The Golden Dome, first ordered by Trump in January, aims to create a network of satellites, perhaps numbering in the hundreds, to detect, track and potentially intercept incoming missiles.

Democratic lawmakers have voiced concern about the procurement process and involvement of Trump ally Elon Musk's SpaceX, which has emerged as a frontrunner alongside Palantir and Anduril to build key components of the system.

The Golden Dome idea was inspired by Israel's land-based Iron Dome defense shield that protects it from missiles and rockets.

Trump's Golden Dome is much more extensive, including a massive array of surveillance satellites and a separate fleet of attacking satellites that would shoot down offensive missiles soon after lift-off.

Tuesday's announcement kicks off the Pentagon's effort to test and ultimately buy the missiles, systems, sensors and satellites that will constitute Golden Dome.

Trump said the defense shield should be operational by the end of his term in January 2029 and that Alaska would be a big part of the program, while Florida, Georgia and Indiana would also benefit.