Jacob Olidort, Ph.D.,
March 31, 2025
The Art of the Iran Deal
Originally Published by RealClearDefense
President Trump has in recent months repeatedly emphasized two points regarding Iran: first, that he would not allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon and, second, that he would prefer to achieve this through a deal rather than “bombing the hell out of it.” Earlier this month he sent the Supreme Leader a letter inviting him to direct negotiations.
Time is not on our side. According to some analyses, Iran is months away from achieving weapons grade uranium. And this October, the remaining United Nations “snapback” sanctions expire.
But these constraints provide opportunities for the president, especially when viewed in the context of Iran’s position in the region. Simply put: Today, a good deal can be achieved because Iran is at its weakest while the United States is at its boldest and strongest.