The administration of US President Donald Trump is intensifying pressure on Iranian authorities to adopt a clearer stance and to “drag” them into direct negotiations, without ruling out military options.
While attention is focused on the US administration's pressure and its potential success in curbing Iran, the latter may counter Trump by leveraging “international and regional cards,” according to an American researcher.
Earlier, Axios reported that President Trump’s message to Iran set a two-month deadline for reaching a new nuclear deal, warning of consequences if the offer is rejected and Iran continues its nuclear program.
An American official and two sources familiar with the message told Axios that "Trump does not want open-ended negotiations with the Iranians."
Trump's National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz, urged Iran to abandon all elements of its nuclear program, including missiles, armament, and uranium enrichment, or face a full range of other consequences.
While the White House has not officially confirmed a deadline for Tehran, Brian Katulis, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute in Washington, suggested that Trump wants Iran's leadership to focus their thinking on taking a stance and moving seriously toward the negotiating table.
“Iran is facing critical decisions regarding its nuclear program and influence in the Middle East, while the Trump administration is pushing (by setting the deadline) for a clearer response than Iran has given so far,” Katulis told Asharq Al-Awsat.
According to Katulis, military action against Iran remains a possibility, but Trump’s approach toward Iran is still unclear.
For his part, Patrick Clawson, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, believes Trump wants to demonstrate his ability to reach agreements on Ukraine, Lebanon, Gaza, and Iran, while Biden has been unable to do so.
Clawson told Asharq Al-Awsat, “In each case, Trump has said: 'Make a deal or you’ll pay a heavy price,' and for Iran, the 'heavy price' will become clear by the summer.”
