The ultimate failure of Trump’s Iran strategy.
55 years ago

The ultimate failure of Trump’s Iran strategy.

Slate  

President Donald Trump’s interest in launching an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities—an interest batted down by all of his security advisers, according to a story in Tuesday’s New York Times—is nail-in-the-coffin proof that his “maximum pressure” policy against the Islamic republic has been an unmitigated disaster. Trump’s rationale was that Iran would fold under the pressure and return to the negotiating tables for a “better” nuclear deal. Realizing that Iran didn’t succumb to the pressure, Trump asked his advisers last week whether he should and could launch an attack before he leaves office. One might infer from all this that diplomacy just doesn’t work: Trump goes hard on Iran, easy on North Korea, and gets nowhere with either.

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History of this topic

Opinion: Trump wants to rekindle his Kim Jong Un bromance, but North Korea has other suitors now
3 days, 13 hours ago

Opinion: Trump wants to rekindle his Kim Jong Un bromance, but North Korea has other suitors now

LA Times  

To say that President-elect Donald Trump has a lot of plans for his second term would be a gross understatement. Members of Trump’s inner circle told Reuters in late November that the next president was already talking about restarting the personal diplomacy with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un that had begun during his first term. During his first term, …

North Korea's Kim vows toughest anti-US policy before Trump takes office
1 week, 5 days ago

North Korea's Kim vows toughest anti-US policy before Trump takes office

Deccan Chronicle  

Seoul: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said he will implement the 'toughest' anti-US policy, less than a month before Donald Trump takes office as US president, the country's state media reported Sunday. It said Kim's speech 'clarified the strategy for the toughest anti-US counteraction to be launched aggressively' by North Korea for its long-term national interests and security. But …

Trump’s National Security Pick Vows Return to Maximum Pressure on Iran
4 weeks, 1 day ago

Trump’s National Security Pick Vows Return to Maximum Pressure on Iran

Live Mint  

Donald Trump’s pick for national security adviser vowed a return to the maximum pressure campaign that defined Iran policy in the president-elect’s first term, even as leaders in Tehran signal they want to reduce tension. “You’re going to see a huge shift on Iran,” after Trump takes office Jan. 20, Mike Waltz said in a Fox News interview Wednesday. We …

North Korean leader says past diplomacy only confirmed US hostility
1 month, 2 weeks ago

North Korean leader says past diplomacy only confirmed US hostility

Associated Press  

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said his past negotiations with the United States only confirmed Washington’s “unchangeable” hostility toward his country and described his nuclear buildup as the only way to counter external threats, state media said Friday. He called for accelerated efforts to advance the capabilities of his nuclear-armed military, saying the country’s only …

North Korea calls for ‘limitless’ nuclear expansion to counter US after Trump win
1 month, 3 weeks ago

North Korea calls for ‘limitless’ nuclear expansion to counter US after Trump win

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy North Korean leader Kim Jong-un …

North Korea wants to re-open nuclear talks with US if Trump wins presidential elections: Report
5 months, 1 week ago

North Korea wants to re-open nuclear talks with US if Trump wins presidential elections: Report

India TV News  

Seoul: A former high-ranking North Korean diplomat, who defected to the South last year, said Pyongyang wants to re-open nuclear talks with the United States if Republican candidate Donald Trump is re-elected after the November elections and is working on a new negotiating strategy. Ri Il Kyu, a senior North Korean diplomat based in Cuba, defected with his wife and …

Kim vows to boost North Korea’s nuclear capability after observing new long-range missile launch
1 year, 5 months ago

Kim vows to boost North Korea’s nuclear capability after observing new long-range missile launch

Associated Press  

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vowed to further bolster his country’s nuclear fighting capabilities as he supervised the second test flight of a new, powerful intercontinental ballistic missile designed to strike the mainland United States, state media reported Thursday. Kim said North Korea is compelled to bolster the country’s “nuclear war deterrent” because the security …

U.S. must ditch 'Trump method' in nuclear talks, says Iran
2 years, 6 months ago

U.S. must ditch 'Trump method' in nuclear talks, says Iran

The Hindu  

Iran warned the U.S. to abandon the "Trump method" on Wednesday after the two sides opened indirect talks to revive a nuclear deal that was torpedoed by the former American President. Iran agreed to curb its nuclear programme in return for sanctions relief in 2015, before then U.S. President Donald Trump pulled out of the deal three years later. "We …

Biden’s test: Rebuilding the Iran nuclear deal Trump tore apart
4 years ago

Biden’s test: Rebuilding the Iran nuclear deal Trump tore apart

LA Times  

President-elect Joe Biden has made no secret that one of his earliest foreign policy objectives will be for the U.S. to rejoin the landmark Iran nuclear deal that the Trump administration has spent four years disparaging and gutting. All parties “must move fast,” leaders of the European Council on Foreign Relations said in a statement this month, noting also that …

Trump will leave office foiled by the North Korea nuclear problem. Will Biden fare better?
4 years, 1 month ago

Trump will leave office foiled by the North Korea nuclear problem. Will Biden fare better?

LA Times  

President Trump’s cool-headed nuclear envoy told the North Koreans it was “a window of opportunity.” Here was a U.S. president willing to venture far outside traditional diplomacy, particularly with regard to a pariah nation like North Korea. “But it’s not black and white; Trump is a mixed bag.” Biden and South Korean President Moon Jae-in spoke on the phone Thursday, …

North Korea was Trump’s chief foreign policy boast, but things got worse on his watch
4 years, 4 months ago

North Korea was Trump’s chief foreign policy boast, but things got worse on his watch

LA Times  

Days before Donald Trump was sworn in as president, Barack Obama gave him an urgent warning: North Korea was a serious threat and might soon be capable of marrying a nuclear warhead to a long-range missile that could reach American shores. But Trump’s 2017 threat to unleash “fire and fury” on North Korea “was the closest” the countries came to …

Iran’s Supreme Leader says he won't negotiate with U.S.
4 years, 5 months ago

Iran’s Supreme Leader says he won't negotiate with U.S.

The Hindu  

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Friday that his country will not negotiate with the United States because America would only use talks for propaganda purposes. In a televised speech marking the Eid al-Adha holiday, Mr. Khamenei said President Donald Trump would benefit from talks, saying Mr. Trump wants to “use negotiations with us for propaganda like negotiations …

On flawed North Korea and Iran policies, John Bolton's new book blames 'the split between Trump and Trump'
4 years, 6 months ago

On flawed North Korea and Iran policies, John Bolton's new book blames 'the split between Trump and Trump'

Firstpost  

President Donald Trump knew exactly what he was getting when he hired John Bolton in the spring of 2018 to be his national security advisor: An uber-hawk who made no secret of his belief that Iran and North Korea could be driven over the brink by extreme sanctions President Donald Trump knew exactly what he was getting when he hired …

North Korea says it sees no point in maintaining Kim-Trump ties
4 years, 6 months ago

North Korea says it sees no point in maintaining Kim-Trump ties

Al Jazeera  

The two leaders first met at a breakthrough summit in Singapore in June 2018, but talks have made little progress. Policies from the US prove Washington remains a long-term threat to the North Korean state, and its people and North Korea will develop more reliable military forces to counter that threat, Foreign Minister Ri Son Gwon said in a statement …

Diplomacy stalled a year after Trump-Kim Summit collapse
4 years, 10 months ago

Diplomacy stalled a year after Trump-Kim Summit collapse

Al Jazeera  

Little indication talks will revive as leaders turn attention to economy, the coronavirus outbreak and US elections. “We haven’t really had discussions or real negotiations since that moment,” said Peter Ward, a North Korea analyst who researches the North Korean economy. Now, North Korea has routinely refused aid packages from President Moon – and much of the South Korean public’s …

Donald Trump wrong to think 'maximum pressure' campaign will break Tehran regime, says Iran foreign minister
4 years, 10 months ago

Donald Trump wrong to think 'maximum pressure' campaign will break Tehran regime, says Iran foreign minister

Firstpost  

In recent months, Iran has steadily violated the limitations the deal placed on the amount of enriched uranium and heavy water it can stockpile, the number and type of centrifuges it can operate, and the purity of the uranium it enriches. Munich: Iran’s foreign minister said Saturday that US President Donald Trump is receiving bad advice if he believes an …

Donald Trump refutes Iran's claim in televised address, says no American or Iraqi lives lost in missile attack
5 years ago

Donald Trump refutes Iran's claim in televised address, says no American or Iraqi lives lost in missile attack

Firstpost  

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday in a televised addressed said that no American lives had been lost in the Iranian missile attack on two American bases in Iraq US president Donald Trump on Wednesday in a televised addressed said that no American lives had been lost in the Iranian missile attacks on two American bases in Iraq earlier in …

North Korea’s Kim ends freeze of nuclear and missile tests
5 years ago

North Korea’s Kim ends freeze of nuclear and missile tests

Al Jazeera  

North Korean leader says Pyongyang will show ‘new strategic weapon’ soon as he denounces US’s ‘gangster-like demands’. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Wednesday said his country would continue developing nuclear programmes and introduce a “new strategic weapon” in the near future, state media KCNA said after the United States missed a year-end deadline for a restart of denuclearisation …

Twin foreign policy crises greet Trump as election year dawns
5 years ago

Twin foreign policy crises greet Trump as election year dawns

CNN  

CNN — President Donald Trump is suddenly faced on the first day of election year with hot foreign policy crises with Iran and North Korea that put American lives at risk and could weigh heavily on his own political prospects. Kim Jong Un meanwhile warned North Korea would soon reveal a “new strategic weapon.” If that is code for testing …

Donald Trump has three options with North Korea to avoid a perfect storm of danger
5 years, 1 month ago

Donald Trump has three options with North Korea to avoid a perfect storm of danger

CNN  

Editor’s Note: Duyeon Kim is an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security and a columnist with the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. The three issues are: USdiplomacy with North Korea; the fate of a key intelligence cooperation pact between South Korea and Japan; and negotiations for who pays to station US troops on the Korean …

Iran has called Trump’s bluff (opinion)
5 years, 2 months ago

Iran has called Trump’s bluff (opinion)

CNN  

Editor’s Note: Frida Ghitis, a former CNN producer and correspondent, is a world affairs columnist. Frida Ghitis CNN The latest news comes from Iran, where the regime has just announced it is injecting uranium into centrifuges spinning in a nuclear facility deep inside a mountain in Fordow, raising questions about Iran’s intentions to build a nuclear weapon. Under the JCPOA, …

Trump is trapped between two impulses on Iran
5 years, 3 months ago

Trump is trapped between two impulses on Iran

CNN  

Washington CNN — President Donald Trump is stuck in a political box – largely of his own making – on Iran, a predicament that becomes more intractable with each alarming cycle of escalation. Hinting at this dilemma, Trump made clear that he had not made any promises to the Saudis, but added in a less than ringing assurance to an …

Trump’s ‘maximum pressure’ strategy on Iran did not fail
5 years, 3 months ago

Trump’s ‘maximum pressure’ strategy on Iran did not fail

Al Jazeera  

On September 10, US President Donald Trump shocked the world by sacking his national security adviser John Bolton with a tweet. Bolton was the key architect of Trump’s “maximum pressure” strategy against Iran. When it withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal in May 2018, the Trump administration adopted a new and more aggressive “maximum pressure” strategy against Iran. Trump’s critics …

Donald Trump looks presidential as he sacks Bolton
5 years, 3 months ago

Donald Trump looks presidential as he sacks Bolton

Deccan Chronicle  

America’s national security adviser John Bolton’s departure from the White House could have been anticipated months ago when President Donald Trump would not be ensnared in any of the wars that Mr Bolton tried to set up for him. Nevertheless, it must be put down to Mr Trump’s cussedness that he tried to upturn many things that President Barack Obama …

‘We’ll see what happens’: Trump on possible easing of Iran policy
5 years, 3 months ago

‘We’ll see what happens’: Trump on possible easing of Iran policy

Al Jazeera  

Trump’s comments follow his sacking of John Bolton – chief architect of the US president’s strident stance against Iran. President Donald Trump on Wednesday left open the possibility of the United States easing sanctions on Iran, adding he believes Tehran wants to strike a deal with Washington on its nuclear programme. “We’ll see what happens,” Trump told reporters at the …

Donald Trump's threat to 'obliterate' Iran could be the spark that sets West Asia aflame; negotiations must be reopened
5 years, 6 months ago

Donald Trump's threat to 'obliterate' Iran could be the spark that sets West Asia aflame; negotiations must be reopened

Firstpost  

The fear is that Donald Trump’s bully rhetoric and his increasingly threat to obliterate Iran, voiced so often in the recent past, could create an impasse in the region Much truth is said in jest and US president Donald Trump’s cheerful admonishment to Russian president Vladimir Putin not to interfere in the 2020 election in the United States underscores a …

Trump’s casual talk of a hypothetical war with Iran underestimates dangers
5 years, 6 months ago

Trump’s casual talk of a hypothetical war with Iran underestimates dangers

CNN  

Washington CNN — President Donald Trump is adopting an increasingly cavalier attitude to the consequences of a war with Iran amid fears the current confrontation could spill over into a military conflict. A day earlier, bolstering his rhetoric amid worsening tensions with Tehran, the President said he didn’t need an “exit strategy” in the event that any conflict breaks out. …

What does Donald Trump want from Iran? Washington claims 'maximum pressure' policy is working as economic troubles narrow Tehran's options
5 years, 6 months ago

What does Donald Trump want from Iran? Washington claims 'maximum pressure' policy is working as economic troubles narrow Tehran's options

Firstpost  

With tensions rising, the US has sent an additional 1,500 troops to the Middle East. US ally Saudi Arabia, Iran’s regional rival, blamed the Iranian government and called the May attacks “naked aggression.” Saudi King Salman asked the international community to “use all means” to punish Iran. President Trump told UK television host Piers Morgan that military options are on …

US and Iran showdown goes from terrible to worse
5 years, 6 months ago

US and Iran showdown goes from terrible to worse

CNN  

Washington CNN — Fresh fury flying between President Donald Trump and Iran shows why the threat of a disastrous war was not averted by his last minute decision to call off “cocked and loaded” US air strikes to avenge the downing of a US drone last week. Iran reacted furiously on Tuesday to a new set of sanctions imposed by …

President Donald Trump weighs war or peace amid Iran crisis
5 years, 6 months ago

President Donald Trump weighs war or peace amid Iran crisis

CNN  

Washington CNN — President Donald Trump blinked. The move may mean that Iran feels it has latitude to move again against US interests – but may escape retaliation by staying short of Trump’s new red line. Trump, who has made reversing everything his predecessor Barack Obama did a cornerstone of his own presidency will not like the comparison – but …

Trump faces nuclear threats from Iran and North Korea. His tactics are failing for both
5 years, 6 months ago

Trump faces nuclear threats from Iran and North Korea. His tactics are failing for both

CNN  

London CNN — To inherit one nuclear crisis might look like misfortune, but to develop a second looks like carelessness. He listened to a hawkish triumvirate of advisors – Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, National Security Advisor John Bolton and Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu – believing that tough talk and the threat of tough action might reverse Iran’s behavior and …

Column: Iran’s behavior isn’t as mysterious as it looks
5 years, 6 months ago

Column: Iran’s behavior isn’t as mysterious as it looks

LA Times  

What’s Iran up to? But President Trump renounced the deal and reimposed tight U.S. sanctions, including choking off Iran’s oil sales. Pentagon to send 1,000 more troops to Middle East as tensions rise with Iran » John Bolton, the president’s national security advisor, openly advocated overthrowing the Tehran government before he joined Trump’s staff last year. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s …

Trump Doesn’t Want a “Better” Deal With Iran
5 years, 8 months ago

Trump Doesn’t Want a “Better” Deal With Iran

Slate  

President Donald Trump is about to squeeze Iran like never before. One clear sign that Trump wants Iran boxed in is that he hasn’t offered another choice—he hasn’t said what he wants the Iranian government to do in exchange for dropping his campaign of “maximum pressure.” Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif likened the Trump administration’s behavior to that of …

South Korean leader’s visit highlights Trump’s stalled nuclear talks with Kim Jong Un
5 years, 8 months ago

South Korean leader’s visit highlights Trump’s stalled nuclear talks with Kim Jong Un

LA Times  

President Trump said Thursday that “a third summit could happen” with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as he worked with South Korea to jump-start stalled nuclear diplomacy on the peninsula. “It’s not a fast process.” Trump met with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in the Oval Office, the first meeting with the pivotal regional ally since Trump’s second summit …

President Trump’s maximum pressure tactic a dud; Round two to Kim Jong Un
5 years, 9 months ago

President Trump’s maximum pressure tactic a dud; Round two to Kim Jong Un

Firstpost  

Kim’s rejection of US President Trump’s demand of full denuclearisation prior to the lifting of harsh UN and US economic sanctions leaves the president with few good choices North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s refusal at February’s Hanoi summit to bow to Donald Trump’s “maximum-pressure” approach may prove to be a watershed in the US president’s notion of foreign-policy making, …

Trump and Kim fail to reach deal in Hanoi. Now is the time for real diplomacy.
5 years, 10 months ago

Trump and Kim fail to reach deal in Hanoi. Now is the time for real diplomacy.

Slate  

There’s a bright side to the collapse of the second Trump-Kim summit. His diplomats—and even his handpicked North Korea emissary, Stephen Biegun—had been meeting with Kim’s team for months, to no avail, mainly because Kim believed he could get a better deal if he waited for the one-on-one with Trump. Not even the collapse in Hanoi seems to have shattered …

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