FOR students of international relations, the way Donald Trump has conducted foreign policy presents a fascinating, if bizarre, case study. Until recently, the US president was breathing fire against Iran, threatening the Islamic Republic with dire consequences in an angry tweet last week. However, in a news conference on Monday, Mr Trump made a surprising overture to Tehran, saying he was willing to meet President Hassan Rouhani “anytime they want”, and with no preconditions. Considering Mr Trump not too long ago ripped up the nuclear deal, which appeared to be serving its purpose and was being honoured by all sides, this is a highly unexpected development. Mr Trump’s recent overture to Iran — strange though welcome — mimics his diplomacy with North Korea. Until June’s US-North Korea summit in Singapore, Mr Trump and Kim Jong-un were publicly trading schoolyard insults. However, the summit, though low on substantive breakthroughs, was projected by both sides as a master stroke of diplomacy and statesmanship. Where Tehran is concerned, though the US offer of talks is indeed welcome, not too long after Mr Trump’s remarks, senior members of the US establishment signalled that there would be no sudden embrace of Iran. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said there would be preconditions — Iran would have to reduce its “malign behaviour”. The Iranian side was also circumspect; an adviser to Mr Rouhani said talks could only take place if the US showed “respect” for Iran and returned to the nuclear deal.

Considering the air of hostility that has surrounded Iran-US relations, especially since the beginning of the Trump presidency, the offer — if it is a sincere one — of unconditional talks from Washington should be welcomed. However, Mr Trump should realise that to rebuild trust with Tehran after torpedoing the nuclear deal will take deft diplomacy and confidence-building measures. As Mr Pompeo’s comments have indicated, CBMs are highly unlikely. The mixed messages emanating from Washington are unlikely to find a receptive audience in Tehran. If Mr Trump is serious about his desire for dialogue with Iran, by all means he should pursue it; perhaps Europe can act as a bridge between the Americans and Iranians. And any genuine offer of friendship from the US should be taken up by Iran in the interest of peace. However, for such an offer to succeed, the shrill cries for war from the hawkish lobby that surrounds Mr Trump must be ignored.

Published in Dawn, August 1st, 2018