Trump’s Iran Policy Has Shifted, Except on Nuclear Issues
As Iran moves to revive oil exports, Bloomberg reports that Iranian oil officials and intermediaries have been contacting refineries in India, Japan, South Korea and other Asian countries to restart supply deals. The outreach accelerated after the United States granted a temporary 60-day waiver from oil sanctions, and it began even before the waiver was formally approved. For Tehran, the opening is a rare chance to return millions of barrels to the market after months of war and sanctions, while Asian buyers are already weighing how to use the opportunity.
A Wall Street Journal analysis says President Donald Trump has changed course on nearly every other goal he set when the war with Iran began four months ago. At the start, he talked about regime change, unconditional surrender and destroying Iran’s military capabilities. Now, after the principles agreement with Tehran, the White House tone is markedly different.
Trump has moved from urging Iranians to topple their government to describing the new leadership in Tehran as “less radical” and more pragmatic. The demand for total surrender has disappeared, replaced by an agreement offering Iran major economic relief, including the possibility of resuming oil exports and additional concessions in future talks. His stance on Iran’s missile program has also softened, from pledges to wipe out the industry to treating it as an issue for later, separate negotiations.
The one issue that has remained largely unchanged is Iran’s nuclear program. The Journal says the shift in Trump’s messaging is driven not only by military or diplomatic considerations, but also by concern over the Strait of Hormuz, rising energy prices and damage to the global economy. In this view, Washington’s goal is no longer to remake Iran, but to keep the regional crisis from becoming a worldwide economic one.
Separately, a Euronews-published Arab News analysis says the U.S.-Iran principles agreement has prompted debate in Lebanon over whether it could weaken Hezbollah or help the group regroup. Lebanese officials and Hezbollah critics disagree over whether Iran’s relative weakness and regional setbacks will reduce the group’s power, or whether sanctions relief and renewed talks will give it fresh resources. Israel continues to demand that Hezbollah be pushed away from the border and disarmed, while Lebanese leaders say only the Lebanese state can handle talks with Israel and set future security arrangements.
