As tensions simmer in the Middle East, a senior Iranian politician has made a direct appeal to U.S. President Donald Trump, urging him to restart negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program. Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran’s vice-president for strategic affairs, expressed hope that the returning administration would take a “more serious, more focused, more realistic” approach to the long-running dispute.
The plea comes as Iran accelerates its uranium enrichment activities, edging closer to weapons-grade levels while insisting it has no desire to actually develop a nuclear bomb. Zarif pointed out that key Iran hawks like former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and national security adviser John Bolton, who persuaded Trump to abandon the nuclear deal in 2018, are no longer in the picture.
That decision to withdraw from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and reimpose crippling sanctions on Iran has failed to bring about the regime’s collapse as some had predicted. Instead, Zarif argued, it has left Iran closer to nuclear weapons capability while the Iranian people, especially the most vulnerable, bear the brunt of the economic pressure.
Shifting Winds in Iran?
Zarif’s comments, made at the World Economic Forum in Davos, come on the heels of a reformist victory in Iran’s elections. He painted a picture of a society in transition, noting for example that many women are choosing not to wear the legally mandated hijab without facing intense pressure from authorities. “It’s a step in the right direction but it is not enough,” he acknowledged.
Critics were quick to point out that Zarif glossed over the steep price many Iranian women have paid for demanding greater freedoms, and the harassment they still routinely face. And despite the moderate tone, he gave no indication that Iran is ready to curtail its support for regional groups deemed terrorists by the West, insisting that their resistance stems from injustice rather than Iranian interference.
Nuclear Brinkmanship
Even as Zarif extended an olive branch, the head of the UN’s nuclear watchdog warned that Iran is hitting the gas on uranium enrichment, going from about 7kg to over 30kg of 60% enriched uranium per month. The original nuclear deal was designed to keep Iran’s program in check with strict inspections to certify it was for peaceful purposes only.
Iran is not a single voice, a uni-voice society. We have many voices and many views, and we cannot shut them down.
– Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iranian Vice President for Strategic Affairs
Now the specter of an Israeli strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities looms, as some see Tehran’s current vulnerabilities as a prime opportunity. Gulf Arab states are increasingly speaking out against such an attack, fearing it could trigger a devastating regional war. “Any war in our region, is something we should try to avoid as much as possible,” Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister cautioned.
Moment of Truth for the JCPOA
The clock is ticking, with key provisions of the 2015 nuclear accord set to expire in October 2025. The U.S. and its European allies will have to decide whether to pursue a stronger deal, roll back sanctions in hopes of reviving the existing one, or risk Iran crossing the nuclear threshold for good.
Iran for its part faces a crucial choice between reaping the economic benefits and global reintegration that would come with a deal, or forging ahead on its current path of defiance and risk the prospect of full-scale conflict. With hardliners still wielding great influence, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has given no clear signal either way.
As the high-stakes chess match plays out, the world waits for President Trump’s next move. Will he pick up the diplomatic gambit, double down on the maximum pressure campaign, or allow the Israeli sabre-rattling to run its course? The future of the Middle East may hinge on the answer.
