Trump: We have to make a deal, because the consequences are impossible
According to The Nation, As Donald Trump begins his second term as President of the United States, the question of whether he can strike a deal with Iran looms large. Trump, who officially took office on January 21, 2025, inherits a deeply fractured relationship with Tehran.
Despite signaling his interest in diplomacy, many experts doubt his ability to achieve meaningful progress.
In September 2024, Trump expressed his desire to negotiate with Iran, stating, “We have to make a deal, because the consequences are impossible. However, neither Trump nor his administration has outlined a framework for such a deal, and Iranian officials report no contact with the new U.S. government.
Critics point to his track record from his first term, which saw the U.S. withdraw from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2018 and impose maximum pressure sanctions that devastated Iran’s economy.
The previous administration's approach to Iran included escalating tensions through actions such as the assassination of General Qassem Soleimani and threats to target culturally significant Iranian sites.
Despite claiming he wanted a better deal, Trump’s demands, delivered via then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, were deemed unacceptable by Tehran.
Experts believe that any potential deal will require a significant shift in Trump’s strategy. Joost Hiltermann, director for the Middle East and North Africa at the International Crisis Group, commented, “I’m not an optimist.
It’s looking more and more like there won’t be a deal. Similarly, Jim Walsh, a scholar at MIT’s Security Studies Program, dismissed the idea of Trump prioritizing diplomacy as wishful thinking.
Iran’s advancing nuclear program further complicates the situation, increasing pressure for a resolution. Negotiations leading to the original JCPOA took months of detailed, patient diplomacy qualities critics argue Trump lacks.
Yet some observers suggest Trump’s desire for recognition might push him toward a deal. John Limbert, a former hostage during the 1979 U.S. embassy crisis in Tehran, noted, “We have to make a deal, because the consequences are impossible, to claim credit for resolving the problems with Iran.
As tensions escalate, the outcome remains uncertain. While war appears to be on the horizon, Trump’s unpredictable nature leaves room for the unexpected. Whether he pursues diplomacy or confrontation, the stakes for U.S.-Iran relations could not be higher.