YOUR QUESTIONS TO THE EDITOR – Adrien Jaulmes, correspondent for Figaro in Washington, answered readers’ questions.
After more than three weeks of conflict, Donald Trump mentioned on Monday the possibility of “negotiations” with an unidentified Iranian official and suspended strikes against critical infrastructure in the Islamic Republic for five days. The American president also extended the ultimatum to Tehran, previously threatening to destroy the regime’s energy installations if the Strait of Hormuz remained blocked.
Why this change? What strategy is he now adopting? Adrien Jaulmes, the Figaro correspondent in Washington, answered your questions.
Have negotiations between the United States and Iran actually begun?
“Many people would like to know,” says Adrien Jaulmes, correspondent for Figaro in Washington. “What seems to emerge from Donald Trump’s statements, sometimes contradictory remarks from Iran, and also from third-party countries, particularly in the Middle East, is that initial contacts have been made.”
“These are not exactly negotiations,” he clarifies, instead referring to “what are called in diplomatic terms negotiations about negotiations.” “One of the intermediaries could be Pakistan, offering to play this role and even host a potential meeting between American and Iranian representatives.”
“According to other sources, Egyptian intelligence services have also established contact with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard,” continues the journalist. “So there are some initial clues, but at this stage, they are still indirect, which is not exactly what Donald Trump describes,” assures Adrien Jaulmes, “who claims that negotiations are already underway.”
What is Donald Trump’s strategy?
“Donald Trump’s strategy is one that is almost developed day by day, even changing within a single day, sometimes even in a single speech,” explains Adrien Jaulmes.
“It is more of an improvisation,” he believes, “or what could be termed, as Donald Trump himself says, acting on instinct, acting with his gut.” “What is clear is that there is an American diplomacy led by one man,” emphasizes the journalist. “Donald Trump has sidelined most of the diplomatic apparatus, advisors, and experts who usually surround the American president.”
“He decides alone, with a small group of people, some of whom were actually associated with the start of the war,” adds Adrien Jaulmes. “So, we don’t know the strategy, but what seems to be shaping up in the last 72 hours is that the American president is looking for a way out of this war, now entering its fourth week after three weeks.”
