While former U.S. President Donald Trump has allegedly stated his intent to eliminate the leadership of Iran, the situation surrounding negotiations between the two countries remains convoluted and unclear. The U.S. regime claims that talks have begun, but Iranian officials deny this. As discussed in Kun.uz's "Geopolitics" program, Tehran purportedly does not want to see Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner or his golf partner Steve Witkoff at the negotiation table.
Expert Sanjarbek Rashidov noted that figures like Kushner and Witkoff may play active roles in Trump's negotiation process, but Iran does not view them as reliable counterparts. Kushner's closeness to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly exacerbates this distrust. In Iran's internal politics, beyond the official government, real influence is concentrated in military structures, particularly the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Within the IRGC, key figures include new commander Ahmad Vahidi and the unacknowledged leader Mujtaba Khamenei, whose public appearances are limited.
Other influential political figures include Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and the head of the Quds Force, Ismail Qaani, through whom negotiations might be conducted. On the international stage, Pakistan and Turkey are actively mediating, as they maintain relatively good relations with both the U.S. regime and Iran.
Expert Kamoliddin Rabbimov emphasized that Trump, known for interpreting information to his advantage, might portray routine contacts as "negotiations" to project an image of a strong leader for his domestic audience, especially MAGA supporters. Iran currently feels in a relatively advantageous position and is avoiding negotiations to prevent being interpreted by the West as "fatigued." Instead, Tehran is increasing pressure on regional allies, threatening the energy and water infrastructure of countries such as Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain.
According to CNN, Iran has set several preconditions for talks, including rejecting Kushner and Witkoff in favor of U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, whom it perceives as a more cautious politician. Additionally, Iran is reportedly considering tightening control over the Strait of Hormuz and charging fees for passing ships, which could generate up to $800 billion annually, far exceeding losses from Western sanctions. Currently, the conditions set by both sides are uncompromising, and the future of negotiations remains uncertain.
Source: kun.uz