The US and Iran continue to exchange clandestine messages through mediators concerning a possible return to the negotiation table, particularly regarding Iran's nuclear program.
The messages came as both parties assess the extent of damage to Iranian nuclear sites following recent military strikes by the US, and while the IRGC has warned it could use an as-yet-undisclosed missile arsenal facing any future military threats.
Speaking to a crowd of supporters in Iowa on Thursday night, President Donald Trump said, “Iran really got beat up. And I think they want to meet. I mean, I know they want to meet. And if it's necessary, I'll do it.”
The President said the US strikes on Iran had ended hostile rhetoric from Tehran.
“We just did a really great job. And then, of course, you cap it off with the hit, the perfect hit in Iran, where they were talking awfully badly, you know, death to America, death to Israel. They were talking awfully badly,” Trump said at the rally.
“They’re not talking badly anymore, to be honest with you. And we might even meet with them and see,” he added.
Waste of Time
Meanwhile, the administration of former US President Joe Biden and conservative political circles do not share the optimism prevailing in Washington.
In guest essay published at The New York Times, John Bolton, the longest-serving national security adviser in the first Trump administration, spoke about the continued existence of the scientific and technological know-how for Iran to rebuild its nuclear capacity.
“The Israeli-US attacks caused enormous damage to Iran’s nuclear efforts. Enormous, yes, but still not enough,” Bolton wrote.
He argued that the US strikes on Iran were terminated early and unnecessarily.
He said there is zero evidence the Iranian regime is “prepared to abandon their nuclear dreams, and this is certainly not the moment for Washington to throw Tehran political or economic lifelines, particularly not a ‘new’ nuclear deal with the United States,” he wrote.
Therefore, he noted, there is a critical need for continuous American and Israeli surveillance, and the resolve to strike again if necessary.
He said, “In a perfect world, all of Iran’s uranium, at whatever enrichment level, would be removed and stored at a safe place, where what was once Libya’s nuclear weapons program was shipped. Any uranium in the hands of a proliferator is potentially dangerous.”
Bolton added, “Many are still reflexively pursuing the holy grail of an Iran nuclear deal, perhaps including, according to news reports, the Trump administration. Whatever efforts are made, however, will simply be a waste of oxygen.”
Missile Capabilities
For its part, Tehran continues to demonstrate its military might.
Brigadier General Ali Fazli, deputy coordinator of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), warned Israel and the US not to act “foolishly,” saying that any further miscalculation by Iran’s enemies would undoubtedly be met with a far harsher, more devastating, and crushing response from Iran.
In a interview on Friday with Iran’s state tv channel, he said Iran has so far used only about 25 to 30% of its available missile capability, while its production cycle continues to actively support operational readiness.
Fazli also noted that Iran possesses the technical knowledge in this field, but, based on its ideological principles, it does not seek to possess or use this type of weapon.
Israeli Plan
In Israel, Defense Minister Israel Katz on Friday said the army had a plan to prevent Iran from threatening Israel again after the arch-foes fought a 12-day war last month.
The Israeli military will prepare an “enforcement plan to ensure that Iran cannot threaten Israel again,” Katz said in a statement, adding that “the army must prepare on the intelligence and operational level to ensure that the air force maintains air superiority over Tehran.”
Effectiveness of US Strikes
US and Israel's joint strikes on Iran's main nuclear sites continue to provoke heated debate in Washington's political and intelligence circles. While Trump described them as a complete success, US intelligence reports said the strikes have delayed Iran’s program by only few months.
Also, at a press conference held one day following the US strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, US General Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said final assessments on their extend of damage would take time.
Meanwhile, reports said a new round of talks between a senior US envoy and Iranian officials is being considered to revive diplomatic communication channels, despite the loss of trust between both sides.
But analysts warn that Iranians may revert to their old tactic of stalling negotiations in the hope for changes in the US policy, as happened in the run-up to the 2015 deal.
