President Donald Trump said he does not care if the nuclear negotiations with Iran fall apart [1].
The comments signal a potential shift in the U.S. approach to diplomatic efforts regarding Iran's nuclear program. A lack of interest from the executive level could undermine the stability of ongoing international agreements.
Speaking during a phone interview with CNBC, Trump said the proceedings were uninteresting [2]. He said that the outcome of the discussions would not affect him personally [3].
"Frankly, I thought they started to get very boring," Trump said [3].
Trump said he lacked concern regarding the potential end of the diplomatic process. He said that the collapse of the talks would be an insignificant event [1].
"I really don’t care if the talks fall apart," Trump said [1].
He said he was indifferent toward the continuation of the negotiations. The former president said that the process had become tedious [3].
"If they're over, they're over," Trump said [2].
“"If they're over, they're over."”
These statements suggest a pivot away from the patient diplomacy typically required for nuclear non-proliferation treaties. By labeling the negotiations as boring, the U.S. leadership may be signaling to international partners and Iran that it is less inclined to make concessions or maintain the status quo of the current bargaining process.
