President Trump should aim higher than a temporary nuclear deal with Iran that would merely “kick the can down the road” for future generations — and demand basic freedoms for the Iranian people, an expert has argued.
Middle East geopolitics scholar Kian Tajbakhsh said the White House currently has the upper hand against Iran, but risks squandering it at the negotiation table.
“We’re at the 20-yard line with Iran,” Tajbakhsh told The Post Tuesday, warning that the “US is winning the war but losing the negotiations.”
The NYU international relations professor said Trump should strike down any temporary agreement that would allow Tehran to resume enrichment years down the line.
“The idea of a 20-year moratorium is, I think, a big mistake…it kicks the can down the road and, as soon as military hostilities cease, Iran will begin to cheat and covertly recreate its nuclear weapons program,” he warned.
“They will claim that they will agree to a moratorium, but they will cheat, and I think that because they’ve done it. There’s no reason to think they wouldn’t cheat – their regime is committed to this and it has survived,” Tajbakhsh said.
Instead, Trump should stick to the three core demands reportedly raised during US-Iran talks in Muscat in February: no uranium enrichment, limits on ballistic missiles and reducing support for proxy militias.
“Those were the good three war aims – enrichment, missiles and proxies,” Tajbakhsh said. “It would be a mistake to just go back to the nuclear file.”
Trump should even take it a step further – and “squeeze Iran more” – by forcing the Islamic regime and military to “give up their [nuclear] facilities” and demanding “full transparency and full inspections,” the scholar said.
Any deal must also benefit Iranian citizens, not just the regime, he added.
“The US should definitely highlight, as part of the talking points, the human rights inside of Iran – the release of political prisoners – and add that to the demands.”
Tajbakhsh urged Trump to press for restored internet access, freedom of assembly and communication with the outside world, as well as an end to executions and crackdowns on protestors.
“From an American point of view, putting these demands on the table is very important, so that Iranians feel that, having gone out on a limb, President Trump doesn’t just sweep that under the rug and ignore it,” he explained.
“We should basically say that the US is committed to supporting an Iranian future which guarantees greater political and social freedoms,” Tajbakhsh said.
Trump publicly implored Iran on Tuesday to build goodwill with the US by releasing eight women who the regime is reportedly set to execute.
“To the Iranian leaders, who will soon be in negotiations with my representatives: I would greatly appreciate the release of these women,” he posted on Truth Social.
“I am sure that they will respect the fact that you did so. Please do them no harm! Would be a great start to our negotiations!!!” the president wrote.
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