Riyadh likely to double anti-Iran policies after Khashoggi death: Prof. Zonis

TEHRAN, Oct. 25 (MNA) – Marvin Zonis says President Trump is unlikely to maintain a strong response to the Saudi murder of Jamal Khashoggi and Saudi Arabia will likely double its anti_Iran policies to divert attention.

Brutal killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul created a wave of reactions against Saudi young Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s suppressive policies.

Despite early denials, worldwide reactions finally forced the Saudi rulers to acknowledge the death of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the critic of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman policies.

Following the incident over the past two weeks there have been speculations about possible removal of Muhammad bin Salman from power.

To shed more light on the issue we reached out to Marvin Zonis, Professor of international political economy and leadership in the University of Chicago.

Here is the full text of his interview:

How serious and strong do you see President Trump’s reaction to savage death of Saudi Journalist Jamal Khashoggi. How should his reaction be to the issue in order to decrease criticizes and not let the issue affect the results of the upcoming congress election?

President Trump is unlikely to maintain a strong response to the Saudi murder of Jamal Khashoggi. His attachment to the Saudis appears to be very strong. That country, after all, was the first foreign state he visited after his inauguration — a break with American tradition. While he was there, the Saudis flattered him endlessly — flattery he adored. Also, his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, seems to have befriended MbS and urged Trump to maintain the relationship. Also, Trump sees an alliance with MbS as a pillar of anti-Iranian policy. That rates very high in the foreign policy of the Trump administration — Bolton, Giuliani are rabidly anti-Iranian. So, in typical Trump fashion, he has decided to divert attention away from the Saudi murder by focusing instead on the “caravan” of some 7000 migrants from Central America now crossing Mexico to enter the U.S. 
Will international pressures result in changes to power structure in Saudi Arabia?

It is unlikely that foreign pressure will force the royal family to diminish the power of Muhammad Bin Salman. His father has broken the long standing precedent of moving power to the children of King Abdul Aziz’s sons by making his own son the Crown Prince. Only the collective action of members from other branches of the royal family could result in a change of power. There is very little evidence of that occurring.
Will brutal death of Khashoggi cause changes to destructive Saudi regional policies led by Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman particularly in Syria and Iraq which has been a source of threat against national security of countries like Turkey?

It is more likely that MbS will double down on his anti-Iran policies as a way of diverting attention from the murder.

Interview by Payman Yazdani

Despair of Trump against Iran's power

By Hanif Ghafari

TEHRAN – U.S. President Donald Trump and his Foreign Minister Mike Pumpo have recently called for talks with the Islamic Republic of Iran. Even Trump took a step further and spoke with Iran on "negotiated without preconditions". Recent Trump positions and U.S. officials about Iran have been addressed by many international analysts. Many analysts believe that Trump does not have the power to confront "powerful Iran."

Analysts rightly believe that Trump, though, can manage "White House behavior" over other international issues, he will not be able to handle the behavior of actors such as the Islamic Republic of Iran. Regardless of what the approach and purpose behind the recent paradoxical behavior of American officials lies behind, there is a key word that can not be overlooked in analyzing the recent 40-year history of Iran and the United States: "A Powerful Iran."

"Powerful Iran" is not an abstract concept, but the output and product of a full realistic calculation by most American strategists. Many analysts believe that the behavioral paradox of Trump and other U.S. officials towards Iran is due to their confusion in dealing with the "powerful Iran."

In other words, Trump insists on opposing the Islamic Republic of Iran, and on the other hand, he is deeply concerned about the consequences and consequences of this confrontation.

In order to better understand the concept of "powerful Iran," it is better to escape Brzezinski's statements during his lifetime. Brzezinski warned the White House at the beginning of the third millennium, while former U.S. President George W. Bush was raging for Iran that United States will have to learn the rules of the game alongside our country while identifying Iran's power.

We are currently in 2018. Trump now seems to be confused with Iran's power any time. Undoubtedly, if Tramp continues to play its dangerous game against Iran, it will face the costs and consequences of this. It is not unreasonable that many American strategists and theorists warn Trump about the consequences and consequences of the conflict with Iran. This is happening again now. Undoubtedly, people like John Bolton and Mike Pumpo will become symbols of the failure and failure of the Trump government against Iran in the near future.

Undoubtedly, as much as the United States will delay in identifying the concept of a "mighty Iran", the severity of Washington's defeat against Iran will be greater. A topic that even the closest people to Trump can not deny.