TEHRAN(Bazaar) – Professor Frank N. von Hippel, former assistant director for national security in the White House Office of Science and Technology, has said With the US less reliably supporting Saudi Arabia against Iran under a Biden Administration, perhaps Saudi Arabia wants to coordinate more closely with Israel, “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.”
In an interview with the Bazaar, Frank N. von Hippel also says, “If Iran returns to compliance with the JCPOA, the Biden Administration will not press Europe to comply with US nuclear sanctions on Iran.”
Following is the text of the interview:
Bazaar: Biden introduced his foreign policy team. Antony Blinken was named Secretary of State and Jake Sullivan was named National Security Advisor-designate for President-elect Joe Biden's administration. What is your assessment of this team?
Frank N. von Hippel: I don’t know these people but my impression is that they believe in diplomacy, not bullying, first.
Bazaar: What will be the approach of Biden's foreign policy team toward the Middle East?
Frank N. von Hippel: I think that they hope to restore the JCPOA and build on it. They are pro-Israel but not blindly supportive of Saudi Arabia as Trump has been.
Bazaar: Blinken had spoken about Iran's commitment to the JCPOA when European countries did not fulfill their obligations. To what extent can his personality influence Biden's foreign policy team decisions about Iran?
Frank N. von Hippel: If Iran returns to compliance with the JCPOA, the Biden Administration will not press Europe to comply with US nuclear sanctions on Iran.
Bazaar: Barack Obama has told the Washington Post that Biden intends to join the Iran nuclear deal soon after taking office. Why do you think Biden decided to return to JCPOA immediately?
Frank N. von Hippel: I think Biden recognizes how close the US came to a war with Iran during the Trump Administration. We are still worried about what Trump might do in his last two months. I think the Biden Administration would like to return quickly to the relationship with Iran that prevailed at the end of the Obama Administration. I worry that will be difficult, however, because, in reaction to Trump’s policies, Iran is has even less faith in diplomacy with the United States.
Bazaar: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently visited Saudi Arabia and met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, although Riyadh has denied the visit. What is Saudi Arabia's goal of normalizing relations with Israel?
Frank N. von Hippel: With the US less reliably supporting Saudi Arabia against Iran under a Biden Administration, perhaps Saudi Arabia wants to coordinate more closely with Israel, “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.”
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