Ex-envoy says Trump aims to weaken Iran, ‘deal of the century’ likely back on table

[Claira]

Brian Hook, Donald Trump’s special envoy for Iran during the president-elect’s first term in office, said Thursday that his former boss has “no interest in regime change” in Tehran but does seek to isolate and weaken the Islamic Republic, and that the administration’s “deal of the century” peace plan for Israel’s conflict with the Palestinians will likely be back on the table once Trump returns to the White House in January.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/ex-envoy-says-trump-aims-to-weaken-iran-deal-of-the-century-likely-back-on-table/

[CrimsonKing]

7 minutes ago, Claira said:

Brian Hook, Donald Trump’s special envoy for Iran during the president-elect’s first term in office, said Thursday that his former boss has “no interest in regime change” in Tehran but does seek to isolate and weaken the Islamic Republic, and that the administration’s “deal of the century” peace plan for Israel’s conflict with the Palestinians will likely be back on the table once Trump returns to the White House in January.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/ex-envoy-says-trump-aims-to-weaken-iran-deal-of-the-century-likely-back-on-table/

Not really sure what a "deal of the century" could even look like,and I read the article lol

[+and-then]

Trump is likely more able to get some kind of deal but until the Palestinians actually desire coexistence with Israel, it will be no better a fix than any that have come before it.

[CrimsonKing]

4 minutes ago, and-then said:

Trump is likely more able to get some kind of deal but until the Palestinians actually desire coexistence with Israel, it will be no better a fix than any that have come before it.

I really don't believe they want a 2 state solution,as the article pointed out after 10/7 that may all be forgotten pipe dream now anyway...

Just not sure what could/would work outside of everyone packing up and leaving Israel behind,and I don't see that happening.

[Claira]

WSJ: Trump to dramatically increase sanctions against Iran upon return to office

US President-elect Donald Trump plans to dramatically increase sanctions on Iran upon his return to the White House, sources familiar with his plans tells The Wall Street Journal.

According to the report, Trump will focus primarily on Iran’s oil industry, aiming to build on the sanctions he enacted between 2016-2020, and will make a concerted push to isolate Tehran “both diplomatically and financially.”

The source says that the severity of the sanctions will likely be impacted by the assessment that Iran is seeking revenge against Trump for the assassination of former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps chief Qasem Soleimani in 2020.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/wsj-trump-to-dramatically-increase-sanctions-against-iran-upon-return-to-office/

[Claira]

It looks like Trump's plan is to 'bankrupt' Iran by imposing stricter sanctions, particularly on its oil exports.

From the article cited below:

The anticipated sanctions could drastically reduce Iranian oil exports, which currently exceed 1.5 million barrels per day, up from a low of 400,000 barrels per day in 2020. Experts suggest that these measures would severely impact Iran’s economy. Bob McNally, an energy consultant and former US presidential adviser, indicated that reducing exports to a fraction of current levels would leave Iran in a far worse economic position than during Trump’s first term, Financial Times reported.

https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-829374

[Claira]

This is interesting. Iran has been working for years on an extensive railway project in the north of the country. Apparently, this railway is part of a much larger series of projects that would link Iran to Russia via the Caucasus. Iran has also signed a 25-year deal with China and wants to expand trade with Russia and other countries linked to the BRICS economic group. It's obviously anxious to seal deals before Trump takes office. No doubt they are trying to mitigate the damage sanctions will do to their economy, so it would be a shame if something happened to the railway project. You know, like a massive explosion or something.

https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-829414

Edited November 17 by Claira
Fixed formatting.