Former Trump Advisor Claims Iran Outsmarted Trump in Negotiations

Iran skillfully outmaneuvered President Donald Trump in negotiations, securing a more favorable agreement due to Trump's desperate desire for a deal, according to former US National Security Advisor John Bolton. Bolton asserted that the framework agreement prioritizes Iran's interests and that the US president focused on economic anxieties rather than strategic considerations.

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Donald Trump was not thinking about the geostrategic implications of the agreement. He was only thinking about one thing. He wants the Strait open. He wants Gulf oil on international markets. He wants the price of gasoline at the pump to fall. That's all he cares about

"Donald Trump was not thinking about the geostrategic implications of the agreement. He was only thinking about one thing. He wants the Strait open. He wants Gulf oil on international markets. He wants the price of gasoline at the pump to fall. That's all he cares about," Bolton told Euronews in a special report from the G7 summit in Evian.

When asked if this amounted to trading US national security for lower fuel prices, Bolton replied, "I think it basically comes down to that." He also voiced concerns over the lack of a published text for the framework agreement, emphasizing that the details are more critical than the main provisions. Key unresolved issues, he noted, include Iran's uranium enrichment program, the extent of sanctions relief, and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

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I think it basically comes down to that.

"If it were a great deal, it would have been published. I think that pretty much says all you need to know," Bolton stated. He dismissed the White House's claim that Iran's leadership had fundamentally changed following US and Israeli attacks, arguing that while personnel changes occurred due to casualties, the regime remains fanatically the same.

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If it were a great deal, it would have been published. I think that pretty much says all you need to know

Bolton also expressed doubt about Iran's assurances regarding its nuclear program, stating, "Iran has been committed to not having nuclear weapons for 56 years, since it joined the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1970. They simply don't mean it." He further suggested that Trump weakened Washington's influence by agreeing to a deal with a weakened Iran and signaling that the US would not conduct attacks before the midterm elections, reflecting Trump's focus on cheaper energy prices before the November vote. "He desperately wants a deal. And they manipulated him," Bolton concluded.

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Iran has been committed to not having nuclear weapons for 56 years, since it joined the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1970. They simply don't mean it.