Iranian management in the face of Trump’s America

By Ebrahim Beheshti

Staff writer

In the wake of Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election, various analyses have been penned about the future policies of the United States in West Asia. The fate of the Gaza and Lebanon conflicts, as well as the quality of engagement with Iran, have been two pressing issues that have taken center stage in these analyses. In Iran, different views have been floated regarding how to engage with the Trump administration, ranging from recalling the assassination of General Soleimani, the commander of the Quds Force, on Trump’s orders, to calls for a new approach and dialogue with the new US government.
Despite this, by parsing the stances of Iranian government officials, we can glean some insight into what the Rouhani administration has in mind when it comes to dealing with Trump’s America. The United States’ presence in West Asia and its cordial relations with many regional governments, particularly its strategic ties with the Israeli regime, are realities that Iranian analysts, officials, and decision-makers cannot afford to turn a blind eye to.
Furthermore, Iran and the US have a long and checkered history, which culminated in the signing of the nuclear deal in 2015, along with China, Russia, the UK, France, and Germany. Although Trump unilaterally withdrew from the deal in 2018, the JCPOA remains intact, backed by UN Security Council Resolution 2231. It’s no stretch to say that the top priority that could be on the table for both sides is an agreement on Iran’s peaceful nuclear program.
During his election campaign, Trump repeatedly flagged his main concern about Iran as preventing it from acquiring nuclear weapons. After the election results were announced, Brian Hook, who served as the US special representative for Iran in Trump’s previous administration, stated that Trump has no intention of regime change in Iran.

 On the other hand, Iran has suffered significant economic damage due to US sanctions in recent years, and the new government is keen to lift these sanctions to implement its development plans.
The recent developments in West Asia, including the Gaza and Lebanon conflicts and escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, given Tehran’s role as a regional power, have also imposed themselves as another crucial issue on the Iran-US agenda.
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian seemed to be alluding to these realities in his remarks yesterday, saying: “When it comes to the US, whether we like it or not, we will inevitably have to deal with this country in the regional and international arena.”
Earlier, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, had recognized the outcome of the US presidential election as the American people’s decision and stated that Iran would “show respect” for this choice. He also described the future trajectory of relations between the two countries as a choice that would start with respect. Araghchi emphasized that Tehran was not seeking nuclear arms and that building trust was a two-way street, not a one-way deal.
Mohammad Javad Zarif, the president’s strategic deputy, also highlighted the concept of “respect” in his first reaction to the US election and the quality of the future encounter between the two countries, writing: “Iran has shown that it has the will and ability to counter any aggression and is not intimidated by threats, but it does pay attention to respect.”
Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said yesterday at a press conference that in dealing with the incoming US administration, the government had “drawn up different scenarios and would pursue national interests under any circumstances.”
In his remarks, the president also touched on a noteworthy point, namely that Iran and the US would inevitably cross paths in the regional and international spheres, saying: “It’s better if we take the reins ourselves; of course, the government will ultimately pursue the overall foreign policy within the framework of the system’s strategy and grand approaches.”
The government officials’ comments can be boiled down to the following:
The Iranian government respects the US election and its outcome as the American people’s decision.
As a regional power, the Iranian government acknowledges the reality of its encounter with the US in the region and on the international stage and is keen to ensure a suitable quality of engagement (active diplomacy will replace reactive policy).
The Iranian government views respect, trust-building, and addressing concerns as a two-way street, not a one-way deal.
The Iranian government, as emphasized by the president, prefers to take the helm in managing its new encounter with the US (this may be a reference to the unsuccessful experience of indirect talks and mediation in the past three years).
Managing the encounter with the US will be done within the framework of the president’s declared approach of “constructive engagement with the world” and balancing foreign policy, under the umbrella of the Supreme National Security Council’s general policies and decisions, with a view to securing greater national interests.