Change in US Approach to Tehran Unlikely

A senior parliamentarian played down the possibility of a shift in the US hostile approach toward Iran. "The Islamic Republic of Iran is not hopeful that the United States will abandon its antagonistic policies," Alaeddin Boroujerdi, a member of Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, told ICANA on Sunday, two days after the new US President Donald Trump took the oath of office. During campaigning, Trump criticized the 2015 nuclear deal reached by Iran with the administration of his predecessor Barack Obama and five other powers, calling it "a disaster" and "the worst deal ever negotiated". He stopped short of an initial pledge to rip up the UN-sponsored deal but said he would seek a better deal. None of Trump's nominees for top jobs is seen to favor a rapprochement with the Islamic Republic, with some already floating the idea that the accord needs to be renegotiated.  However, there is still wide uncertainty over what stance Trump will adopt on Iran and Boroujerdi said his side has taken a wait-and-see approach. "For now, Trump's remarks are viewed as just rhetoric. We should wait to see to what extent his rhetoric translates into action" he said.