WANA (Nov 08) – More important than Trump himself is the team he appoints at the top of the State Department, Department of Defense, CIA, and National Security Council. This time around, Trump is selecting individuals who, unlike in his first term, are loyal to him and committed to his decisions.

 

When it comes to Iran, this matter takes on even greater significance.

 

Key figures under consideration for positions like Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, CIA, and National Security Council include names like Marco Rubio, Tom Cotton, Richard Grenell, Michael Waltz, Mike Pompeo, Robert O’Brien, Keith Kellogg, and Brian Hook. All of them hold strong anti-Iranian views and believe in confronting Iran from a position of power.

 

Negotiating with Trump’s administration is not as straightforward as some might think. Strong opponents of engaging with Iran are present in Trump’s future team, unless it’s a negotiation based on Pompeo’s 12 preconditions—a framework that essentially demands Iran’s surrender.

 

A positive change in Trump’s second term toward Iran seems highly unlikely.