President Donald Trump said a peace agreement with Iran may be close during an appearance at Andrews Air Force Base [1].
The statement comes as the U.S. seeks a diplomatic resolution to a conflict that escalated following bombings in February [1]. A failure to reach a settlement could lead to a significant increase in military aggression in the region.
Trump said the U.S. is prepared to use both diplomatic and coercive tools to finalize the agreement. He said that a peace deal with Iran could be near [1]. However, he paired this optimism with a warning that the U.S. would take "unpleasant measures" if the terms are not accepted [1].
These measures could include a substantial escalation of military force. Trump said the U.S. might launch "attacks much larger than before" if Iran does not agree to the peace settlement [1].
Tehran is currently analyzing a new proposal from the U.S. government [1]. The administration is using this pressure campaign to force a conclusion to the hostilities that began earlier this year [1]. The U.S. strategy appears to rely on a combination of a viable exit ramp via the peace deal, and the threat of overwhelming force to ensure Iranian compliance [1].
Trump said he did not provide a specific timeline for when the deal would be signed, but his remarks suggest that the framework for an agreement is already under consideration by both parties [1].
“"The peace agreement with Iran may be near."”
The administration is employing a 'carrot and stick' diplomatic strategy, offering a formal peace agreement while simultaneously threatening an escalation of military force. By publicly linking the prospect of peace to the threat of larger attacks, the U.S. is attempting to increase the cost of non-compliance for Tehran and accelerate the timeline for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict triggered in February.
