A couple of nuggets from telephone briefing this morning on reimposition of US sanctions on Iran that had been lifted under the Iran nuclear deal. First, Trump aides would not explicitly say US policy is regime change in Tehran. 1/N
2/N They also would not urge protestors against the regime to bring about regime change. Instead, the officials said the demonstrators have "valid complaints" and said US sanctions aim to "modify the Iranian regime’s behavior"
3/N will the re-imposition of US sanctions cause Iran's wobbly economy to collapse? "Not going to make any predictions," one official said.
4/N the Trump administration still seeks talks with Iran and a new agreement covering “the totality of the Iranian threat” (nuke program of course but also activities in Syria, Yemen, etc)
5/N the officials couldn't really reconcile Trump saying he'd talk to Iranian President Rouhani with no preconditions and @SecPompeo then laying out conditions. Argued US would not give up anything for talks (but Pompeo listed what Iran had to do so [shrug])
6/N the officials disputed that US sanctions would be ineffective in the face of European vows to protect European firms - cited withdrawal by large firms, pointed to Iran's economic woes over past 90 days (aka since Trump withdrew from deal)
7/N some US sanctions come back online at 12:01 am Tuesday. But much more significant is next wave, Nov 4, bc those sanctions cover Iranian oil transactions - watch China, India, etc.
8/8 yes, US sanctions will cover trade in Iranian carpets and pistachios.
7.5/8 oops should be Nov 5 (12:01 am)
