Content of nuclear talks reflects US stance on Iran
By Mansour Haghighatpour
Iran’s foreign policy expert
Amid the ongoing nuclear negotiations between Tehran and Washington, US President Donald Trump has over the past several days made remarks that have drawn sharp criticism from senior Iranian officials who believe the United States’ stance is contradictory and incoherent.
Trump often fails to strike the right balance and does not project the gravitas expected from the leader of a global superpower. He makes frivolous and self-contradictory comments, sometimes even walking back his previous positions. Trump often speaks to play to the gallery, targeting the press and media with his remarks, while the actual message and subsequent actions often diverge sharply. These often-contradictory stances also show that deep divisions exist within the US political landscape, spanning Republican factions, Democrats, the Senate, the House of Representatives, and other institutions — each taking a different line. It is regrettable that a unified voice is not heard from within the US, whereas Iranian officials have consistently stood their ground and delivered a clear message, “We are not seeking nuclear weapons.”
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