Former diplomat urges Iran to appoint envoy to mend ties with US
A former Iranian diplomat has suggested that Tehran appoint a special representative to engage with the Trump administration and work toward resolving disputes with Washington.
A former Iranian diplomat has suggested that Tehran appoint a special representative to engage with the Trump administration and work toward resolving disputes with Washington.
Speaking to the Faraz Daily website in Tehran, Nosratollah Tajik noted that the 2020 killing of IRGC commander Qasem Soleimani remains a significant factor shaping Iran’s adversarial stance. However, he stressed that "Tehran should not allow this issue to harm Iran's national interests." Tajik also highlighted that, unlike Trump’s first term (2017–2021), Iran cannot afford to ignore him once he takes office at the White House.
The most significant point raised by Tajik, one rarely addressed by other Iranian politicians, was his suggestion that President Massoud Pezeshkian appoint a special representative to focus on restoring Iran's ties with the United States and initiating efforts to ease tensions between Tehran and Washington.
Tajik also cautioned the West that Iran retains significant assets in the Middle East despite the fall of Bashar al-Assad in Syria. He pointed out that Iran remains capable of exploiting the fragile situation in eastern Syria to its advantage.
In a controversial statement, Tajik claimed that "the perception that Iran is on the verge of acquiring nuclear weapons serves as its strongest bargaining chip" in negotiations with the West.
However, he acknowledged that factors such as the prolonged war in Gaza, escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, and Assad's fall have created a highly complex environment for any potential negotiations between Iran and the US.
Tajik remarked, "Trump and Iran are well-acquainted with each other. However, the US President-elect has yet to fully unveil his policies toward Iran for his new term." Reflecting on Trump’s 2018 withdrawal from the JCPOA nuclear deal, which severely impacted Iran’s economy, Tajik noted, "The exit also harmed US interests, as Iran significantly scaled back its commitments under the agreement."
He warned that if Trump has learned from that experience, it could reshape future relations between the two countries. "If not, no positive outcome can be expected," Tajik concluded.
In a related development, Eghtesad News in Tehran highlighted remarks from several Iranian politicians regarding the prospects for talks between Iran and the Trump administration. The outlet noted Trump’s recent statement indicating that he does not wish to harm Iran but seeks to contain its nuclear ambitions to prevent Tehran from reaching the point of no return and acquiring nuclear weapons.
Eghtesad News quoted Hamid Aboutalebi, an advisor to former President Hassan Rouhani, who, in an open letter to President Massoud Pezeshkian, urged Iran not to miss what he called a "historic opportunity" to redefine relations with the United States. In the letter, Aboutalebi also suggested that Pezeshkian congratulate Trump on his election victory. The website also pointed out that several Iranian newspapers have recently advocated for improved relations with the United States.
The website also quoted conservative analyst Reza Salehi as saying that "Compared to his Democratic predecessor, Trump can take more positive steps to mend Washington's ties with Iran." Salehi reiterated: "Trump wants to make a deal. He wishes to end wars and prevent any new war."
Eghtesad News then quoted former Vice President Mohamad Ali Abtahi as saying that "Iran needs to benefit from the opportunity as Trump wishes to win the credit for resolving the dispute with Iran.”
Meanwhile, Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh, the former head of the Iranian parliament's national security and foreign relations committee, stated in a commentary that "Iran is not a priority for Trump." He dismissed Tehran’s efforts to signal readiness for talks with the incoming Trump administration as "futile."
