Trump’s envoy: We will restore the policy of maximum pressure on Iran

“We must bring back the policy of “maximum pressure” against Iran, with the aim of making it a more democratic country,” read Keith Kellogg today (Saturday), at a conference of the Iranian opposition held in Paris. Although Iran is not the area of ​​his direct mission, Kellogg, who was appointed as the designated special envoy of the American president to Ukraine and Russia, wants to restore the “maximum pressure” policy.

His intention to the countries that was implemented by the Trump administration in 2018, after the US withdrew from the nuclear agreement (JCPOA). The purpose of this policy was to put pressure on Iran, by weakening its economy, in order to force it to renegotiate its nuclear program, which would include additional restrictions on the Iranian nuclear program, and will also be extended to the ballistic missile program and Iran’s regional activities. Trump, who will take office as president on January 20, He has already announced that he intends to return to this policy that he led in his previous term.

In his words, Kellogg emphasized that the pressures on Iran must include not only military measures, but also economic and diplomatic sanctions. “We have an opportunity to change Iran for the better,” said the retired general, “but this opportunity will not remain forever. We must take advantage of the weakness we see now. The hopes are already there, so the actions must also be proven.”

Kellogg’s presence at the conference of the National Council of the Resistance of Iran (NCRI), even if in a personal capacity, testifies to the close relationship between the organization and the new American administration. Reuters reports noted that the designated Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, has also previously appeared at the organization’s events.
At the beginning of the conference, which was held at the organization’s headquarters in the suburbs of Paris, NCRI president-elect Maryam Rajavi said that the regional balance of power had changed to the detriment of the Iranian leadership following the fall of the Assad regime in Syria and the “crushing blow” suffered by its most important ally, Hezbollah, in its war against Israel. “The time has come for Western governments to abandon the old policy and this time stand by the side of the Iranian people,” Rajavi emphasized.