Iran signals cooperation with the United States as a new meeting looms.

 

Iranians celebrating the Islamic Revolution. New York Post/Reuters.

Iran has signaled cooperation with the United States as a new meeting is scheduled for Tuesday. New York Post. An Iranian foreign policy official, Majid Takht-Ravanchi, said that Iran was willing to offer lucrative deals to the United States on energy, mining and even airplane purchases. They have also offered to dilute the enriched uranium they possess, but stopped short of saying Iran will possess no enriched uranium. Enriched uranium can be used to produce a nuclear weapon. Though major talks are underway, President Trump has ordered significant forces, including two carrier strike groups, to the region should the talks fail. 

My Comment:

I have said for awhile that Iran is in a very bad position. To recap, Iran was utterly defeated in their war against Israel to the point where they don't have much in the way of air defenses left. Their Air Force wouldn't be able to contest an attack and they would also have very little in the way anti-air missiles either. There is very little the Iranians could do to contest an air war against the United States. Keep in mind it only took a few B-2 bombers to destroy their nuclear program. 

And that's not even considering their major stability problems. They just had one of the largest protest movements the country has ever dealt with and the cause was their massive economic problems. They have had major issues with their economy, including hyperinflation and even a water shortage in Tehran. In short, their country is a basket case and they have a major incentive to cut a deal to get sanctions taken down. 

The problem is that I don't see the Trump administration settling for anything other than full compliance with their demands for their nuclear program. If they get rid of it everything would be fine, but Iran keeps saying they need to keep enriched uranium. They say it's for energy production, which makes little sense in a country with massive stockpiles of fossil fuels. But as long as they have uranium it could very well be used for a nuclear weapon and that won't be tolerated. 

Iran is, of course, smart to offer economic concessions to the United States. A major deal would have benefits if we can get cheap oil, cheap minerals and sell our expensive airplanes to Iran. It would obviously be a win-win situation. Iran would be able to stabilize their economy, and America would get a major economic boost as well. 

So will a deal be made? I think it's pretty likely. Iran knows how bad their position is and these signals are a very good sign that they want to make a deal. President Trump, of course, wants to make a deal too, it's what motivates his every action. Both sides understand that they would be better off if they make one, so it's just the Uranium enrichment that is going to be a sticking point. If they can somehow get passed that then a deal will happen.