{"id":306977,"date":"2025-04-17T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-04-17T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/?p=306977"},"modified":"2025-04-19T05:38:47","modified_gmt":"2025-04-19T05:38:47","slug":"is-trump-using-the-nuclear-talks-as-a-pretext-for-war-with-iran","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/?p=306977","title":{"rendered":"Is Trump Using the “Nuclear Talks” as a Pretext for War with Iran?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mike Whitney \u2013 The Unz Review April 15, 2025<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Here\u2019s what the media is not telling you about last Saturday\u2019s nuclear negotiations with Iran:<\/p>\n

There were no negotiations. Not in the conventional sense of the word, at least. What actually took place was more akin to a late-night comedy skit than a gathering of diplomats hammering out a deal on nuclear enrichment.<\/p>\n

At no point, were the members of the Iranian team in the same room as the members of the American team<\/strong>. The delegates from the US sat in one room while the delegates from Iran sat in another shuttling handwritten messages back-and-forth as they might have done in the 19th century before electronic communications.<\/p>\n

And they did not debate the nuclear issue either. No, the confab was convened merely to settle issues related to the nature of the negotiations themselves and the \u201cformat\u201d.<\/p>\n

Format? What does that mean?<\/p>\n

It means the Iranians are not going to negotiate nuclear enrichment (and economic sanctions) with the Trump team if the Trump team is going to include all manner of extraneous issues unrelated to the topic. It means that Iranians are not going to proceed unless there is an explicit agreement that the US will maintain the normal protocols for diplomatic engagement, particularly as it regards the administration\u2019s propensity to use every opportunity to threaten its rivals.<\/p>\n

\u201cFormat\u201d implies ground-rules and those ground-rules are as follows:<\/p>\n

Rule Number 1\u2014<\/strong> No threats. Iran wants a firm commitment that the US team will not resort to bellicose saber-rattling and other forms of childish behavior. (Trump has already broken this rule as we will show later in the article.)<\/p>\n

Rule Number 2\u2014Iran will not discuss its strategic missile program which is perfectly legal under international law.<\/strong> The missile program is not \u2018on the table\u2019 nor is it up for debate. Period.<\/p>\n

Rule Number 3\u2014<\/strong> Iran will not discuss its relations with allies in the region including Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis. That is not on the docket either. The US must agree to refrain from inserting this topic into the negotiations.<\/p>\n

Rule Number 4\u2014<\/strong> The US must not use the negotiations to challenge Iran\u2019s \u201cinalienable right\u201d to develop nuclear power for peaceful purposes as long as its enrichment program conforms with regulations approved under the terms of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT)<\/strong>. Iran has the same rights as every other signatory of the NPT and will not give up those rights to accommodate the discriminatory and petulant demands of Donald Trump. Not going to happen.<\/p>\n

By the way, none of this information is being provided to the American people via the western media which filters all news on Iran through their own perverse ideological lens. Most of the above summary was gleaned from more reliable sources located in Iran where coverage is not entirely shaped by an Israel-friendly, agenda-driven media. This is from an article at Press TV<\/em>:<\/p>\n

The first round of indirect negotiations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States took place on Saturday in Muscat, with both sides agreeing to reconvene next week. Mediated by Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al Busaidi, the talks were led from the Iranian side by Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and from the American side by US envoy Steve Witkoff\u2026.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In a \u201cconstructive atmosphere\u201d marked by mutual respect, the two sides exchanged their respective positions on Iran\u2019s nuclear program and sanctions<\/strong>, communicating through their Omani host. (Note\u2014They stated their positions, they did not negotiate on those positions.)<\/p>\n

After nearly two and a half hours of back-and-forth, exchanging notes<\/strong> through the Omani mediator at least four times, Araghchi and Witkoff met briefly before leaving the venue\u2026. In his remarks following the talks, Araghchi offered a glimpse into the meeting\u2019s tone and substance.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had 2 and half hours of indirect talks, and as the first meeting, it was constructive,\u201d <\/strong>he said.<\/p>\n

The top Iranian diplomat emphasized that the meeting laid a foundation for continued engagement.<\/strong> \u201cThe atmosphere in the meeting was such that it guaranteed the continuation of the process,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Looking ahead to the next round, scheduled for Saturday, April 19, Araghchi added, \u201cWe will try to enter the formal agenda of the negotiations. <\/strong>Naturally, a timeline will accompany it as well.\u201d\u2026 \u201cThese are aspects of the negotiation format, which will be determined in due course \u2014 but what truly matters is the content and the basis upon which we negotiate,\u201d<\/strong> he asserted.<\/p>\n

Reflecting on the outcome of the first round of talks, Araghchi said he believes the two sides came close to identifying that basis \u201cand if in the next meeting we can finalize it and we can begin substantive talks on that very foundation.\u201d\u2026Press TV<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n

Sounds good, so far, right? Formal negotiations have not yet begun, but the atmosphere is constructive and positive. (which is a relief.) It\u2019s worth noting, however, that these are just the preliminary \u2018confidence building\u2019 steps that are being taken to allay the deep and justifiable distrust the Iranians have towards the Trump administration<\/strong>. It was Trump\u2014likely at the behest of Netanyahu\u2014who walked away from the first deal (JCPOA) that everyone else endorsed (United Kingdom, France, Russia, China, and Germany, plus the European Union) and which provided an ironclad guarantee that Iran would never be able to build a nuclear bomb. That wasn\u2019t good enough for Trump<\/strong>, because what Trump wants is what Bibi wants; regime change. Here\u2019s more:<\/p>\n

Iran\u2019s Foreign Minister further explained that no inappropriate language was used<\/strong>, and the parties demonstrated their commitment to advancing the talks until an agreement is reached that is desirable for both parties and is based on an equal footing.<\/p>\n

He stressed that both sides are aligned in their desire for meaningful progress, raising hopes for a favorable outcome if and when the negotiations progress.<\/p>\n

\u201cCertainly, neither we nor the other side are interested in fruitless negotiations, talks for the sake of talks, wasting time, or drawn-out and exhausting discussions,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cBoth parties have stated that their desired outcome is an agreement reached in the shortest possible time. <\/strong>However, this will not be an easy task and will require full determination from both sides.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to Araghchi, the US has shown signs of commitment, but Iran remains cautious. He acknowledged that Washington has made considerable efforts to signal its willingness for a fair deal<\/strong>, yet emphasized the need for thorough reflection.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt this stage, we need to assess this round of negotiations carefully, work more precisely on the issues discussed, and review and consult on them at various levels.\u201d<\/p>\n

The second round of talks is scheduled for Saturday, Araghchi confirmed. Press TV<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Once again, this all sounds rather promising, but \u2018the proof is in the pudding\u2019. Once the two teams start to discuss centrifuges, enrichment and round-the-clock inspections, they could come to loggerheads again. We\u2019ll have to wait and see. Even so, there does seem to be room for hope\u2026. Here\u2019s more:<\/p>\n

The talks are to be held next Saturday\u2026 in a different location.\u201d<\/p>\n

Touching on a brief encounter with Witkoff, Araghchi stated, \u201cWe\u2019ve always observed diplomatic decorum in our interactions with American diplomats, and this time was no different\u2026.<\/p>\n

Following the conclusion of this first round of indirect talks between Tehran and Washington\u2026 The White House also issued a statement on Saturday, describing the discussions as a \u201cstep forward in achieving a mutually beneficial outcome.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

According to the statement, Witkoff \u201cunderscored to Dr. Araghchi that he had instructions from President Trump to resolve our two nations\u2019 differences through dialogue and diplomacy.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

US President Donald Trump, speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One later in the day, struck an optimistic tone\u2026.<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing matters until you get it done\u2026 So, I don\u2019t like talking about it. But it\u2019s going OK. The Iran situation is going pretty good,<\/strong> I think.\u201d\u2026. Press TV<\/em><\/p>\n

Everything sounds so rosy, what could go wrong? Witkoff likes Araghchi, Araghchi likes Witkoff. Both men are pleasant, businesslike and professional. Even Trump sounds pleased with the results. (\u201cThe Iran situation is going pretty good.\u201d) Obviously, there is reason to be optimistic for the first time in 8 years.<\/strong> Perhaps, there is a silver lining, after all.<\/p>\n

But, no, less than 48 hours after the confab had wrapped up in Oman, Trump decided to launch into an insulting tirade during an unscheduled press conference in the Oval Office. Here\u2019s what he said:<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve got a problem with Iran. I\u2019ll solve that problem,\u201d Trump said ominously<\/strong>. \u201cIran has to get rid of the concept of a nuclear weapon. They cannot have a nuclear weapon.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI want them to be a rich, great nation. The only thing is, one thing, simple, it\u2019s really simple: They can\u2019t have a nuclear weapon. And they\u2019ve gotta go fast. Because they\u2019re fairly close to having one. And they\u2019re not going to have one.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd if we have to do something very harsh, we\u2019ll do it.<\/strong> And I\u2019m not doing it for us. I\u2019m doing it for the world. These are radicalized people, and they cannot have a nuclear weapon,\u201d Trump said. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the video\u2014<\/p>\n

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Noteworthy: Today President Trump said he has the feeling that #Iran<\/a>‘s regime is “tapping us along;” expressed impatience with Tehran; and threatened to strike its nuclear program. pic.twitter.com\/BGCo2GpaFf<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Jason Brodsky (@JasonMBrodsky) April 14, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n