The American website The Hill published an article discussing the role of cheap energy in advancing Donald Trump’s economic goals, suggesting that, for this reason, he will likely adopt a negotiation approach with Iran.
The article notes: “Because Trump is seeking cheap oil to boost American economic growth, he will avoid war with Iran. If the Persian Gulf becomes involved in a conflict, Tehran could mine the Strait of Hormuz and block 30% of global oil shipments and 20% of gas shipments.”
It continues: “Although the President-elect of the United States has emphasized that he will not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons, he is likely to first test a negotiation approach. For this, he will need a mediator who is familiar with the region and its key players.”
Several Arab countries see the second term of Trump’s presidency as an opportunity for increased trade relations with the U.S., with Qatar—having a constructive past relationship with Trump—seemingly a suitable candidate.
Jake Sullivan, National Security Advisor to President Biden, recently told CNN that Trump could play a key role in reaching a nuclear deal with Iran.
Wendy Sherman, a senior diplomat in Obama’s State Department, recently acknowledged the growing nuclear capabilities of Iran and the difficulty in fulfilling Trump’s promise for a deal with Tehran. She stated that Donald Trump intends to negotiate with Iran and secure a better agreement.
However, Trump recently refrained from answering a question about a preemptive U.S. strike on Iran or supporting a similar action by Israel during an interview with Time magazine. When asked, “Iran recently plotted to assassinate you. What is the likelihood of war with Iran in your next term?”, he responded: “Anything can happen. It’s a very unstable situation.”
Following this interview, he avoided answering a question on the possibility of a preemptive strike against Iran or supporting similar actions by Israel.
