Dr. Soli Shahvar, Director of the Ezri Center for Iran and Persian Gulf Studies at the University of Haifa, on Tuesday issued a press release headlined: “Trump’s Recent Comments on the Iranian Regime are a Step in the Right Direction.” Shahvar issued his comments following recent tweets by President Donald Trump’s attacks and threats against the Iranian regime.
“Trump’s recent comments on the Iranian regime are a step in the right direction,” according to Dr. Shahvar, who stresses: “What is needed is a careful policy that distinguishes between the Iranian regime and the Iranian people as much as possible, and makes the latter a partner and ally against the regime – rather than forcing the people to stand reluctantly alongside a regime that is already hated by many Iranians.”
Dr. Shahvar explains that the Iranian leadership saw the nuclear agreement as a “victory” over the leaders of the Western world, namely the United States and the European Union. From its perspective, the agreement proved that sanctions had failed, and indeed these were ultimately removed. He adds that, from the standpoint of the Iranian leadership, the policy of the Obama Administration – and particularly its lack of response to Iran’s involvement in Syria – was seen as evidence of American weakness.
Accordingly, Trump’s comments about sanctions – and perhaps even more extreme steps at a later stage – are a step in the right direction. “Many people see Trump’s comments as unplanned, and this may be the case. But the 38-year history of the Islamist regime in Iran proves that a feeble policy toward the Iranian regime only encourages it to maintain its extreme approach,” Shahvar explains.
Dr. Shahvar adds that large sections of the Iranian people are hostile to the regime. Accordingly, it is extremely important to adopt smart and careful policies that clearly distinguish between the Iranian leadership and people, aiming to further widen the gap between them.
“The sense of optimism many Iranian citizens felt following the signing of the nuclear agreement and the removal of the sanctions has begun to change following Trump’s election, and particularly after his various comments since assuming office,” Dr. Shahvar notes. “Hopes of an improvement in the difficult economic situation in Iran following the signing of the nuclear contract are giving way to a further deterioration in the ability of many Iranians to provide for themselves and their families. Accordingly, Trump should avoid random and unplanned comments but should focus instead on a smart, calculated, and complex policy that consistently and relentlessly targets, attacks and pursues individuals, organizations, and institutions that are part of the regime’s core and leadership, while trying to minimize the damage to the Iranian people, with whom the new administration is advised to keep an open and constant channel.”
