Skip to main content

Will Iran take up Trump’s offer to ‘make a deal together’?

President Donald Trump may be ready for another deal with Iran, and if so, Tehran’s leaders should take him up on it.

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif walks with Iranian professor Massoud Soleimani as he arrives at Mehrabad airport, in Tehran, Iran December 7, 2019. West Asia News Agency (WANA) via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY - RC2JQD93R47U
Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif walks with Iranian professor Masoud Soleimani as he arrives at Mehrabad airport, in Tehran, Iran, Dec. 7, 2019. — West Asia News Agency (WANA) via REUTERS

Trump, Iran and the art of the deal on US prisoners

US President Donald Trump may be ready for another deal with Iran, and if so, Tehran’s leaders should take him up on it.

Iran released Princeton graduate student Xiyue Wang Dec. 7 in exchange for Iranian scientist Masoud Soleimani, who was imprisoned in the United States for failing to obtain the required licenses for human growth products.

Trump tweeted Dec. 7, regarding Wang, “Taken during the Obama Administration (despite $150 Billion gift), returned during the Trump Administration. Thank you to Iran on a very fair negotiation. See, we can make a deal together!”

SUBSCRIBER EXCLUSIVE

Continue reading this exclusive analysis

Original reporting and analysis unavailable elsewhere. Subscribe to AL-MONITOR to read this story and access everything we publish