Trump does want a deal with Iran that he can depict as better than any deal that Obama got/ Trump has generated much distrust and ill will with Iran: Paul Pillar
Tehran (KNA): We have an exclusive interview with P.Pillar about recent challenges between Iran and United States.
Emmanuel Macron has said that a French diplomatic initiative could lead to a summit between the US and Iranian presidents "within a few weeks".
President Rouhani says the US should lift all its "cruel" and "unlawful" sanctions against Iran and begin respecting the nation's rights as a "first step" towards talks.
Some experts think that negotiation is possible now. Some others think that it is not. Concerning this matter, we have had an interview with Professor Paul pillar.
Paul Pillar is an academic and 28-year veteran of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), serving from 1977 to 2005. He is now a non-resident senior fellow at Georgetown University's Center for Security Studies as well as a nonresident senior fellow in the Brookings Institution's Center for 21st Century Security and Intelligence.
He was a visiting professor at Georgetown University from 2005 to 2012. He is a contributor to The National Interest.
"What do you think about Trump decision? Is Trump serious about this policy? Does negotiation between Iran and US possible? Do you think this policy is related to presidency election in the US? "we asked.
"It is unclear whether Trump has yet decided to suspend some of the oil sanctions against Iran. Trump does want a deal with Iran that he can depict as better than any deal that Obama got. This, of course, will require negotiations, and so yes, negotiations are possible." Pillar answered.
"But Trump will require good staff support to get him to that point, based on a realistic understanding of Iranian objectives and interests. He probably will not get such support, especially since his national security adviser, John Bolton, wants a war with Iran rather than a deal." He continued.
"Trump has generated much distrust and ill will with Iran, with his unjustified reneging on the JCPOA and his waging of economic warfare. He may not yet realize that he is going to have to give something to get something--including perhaps an up-front partial suspension of oil sanctions as a goodwill gesture before negotiations even start, as Foreign Minister Zarif has mentioned." Paul Pillar mentioned.