NIAC Statement on How the U.S. and Iran Can Overcome Hurdles to Negotiations
Washington, DC – Jamal Abdi, President of the National Iranian American Council, issued the following statement after Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, issued statements on negotiations with Iran over the weekend: “Remarks from Iranian officials over the weekend suggest there is an opening for diplomacy if the United States focuses on realistic goals. “The message from Tehran this weekend, while not directly addressing a letter purportedly sent from Trump to Khamenei, was that if the U.S. seeks an agreement that verifiably ensures Iran does not develop nuclear weapons, the door for talks may be open. However, the message was primarily that, if the U.S. seeks total capitulation and conventional disarmament from Iran, there won’t be talks. “The President has publicly stated that he seeks negotiations focused on ensuring Iran does not develop nuclear weapons. However, we are concerned his administration is sending mixed signals to Iran about the scope of negotiations beyond the nuclear file that could tank hopes for negotiations. We are reminded of then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s infamous “12 demands” of maximalist preconditions for an agreement in Trump’s first term, which only accomplished the neocon’s goal of ensuring the President would never get to the
