President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly considering Richard Grenell, his former intelligence chief, as a special envoy for Iran, according to sources familiar with transition plans. While no final decisions on strategy or personnel have been made, Grenell’s potential appointment signals openness to negotiations with Tehran, a country Trump has previously criticized. Grenell’s role would likely involve engaging regional and global players on the Iran issue and gauging Tehran’s interest in diplomacy.
Trump’s team and Grenell have not commented on the matter. Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, viewed as a moderate, has called for managing relations with the U.S. following Trump’s election. Despite suffering strategic setbacks, including the loss of regional allies and increased Western pressure, Iran has accelerated its nuclear program while limiting U.N. oversight.
Trump’s previous term saw significant actions against Iran, including withdrawing from the 2015 nuclear deal and reinstating sanctions. In 2020, he ordered the killing of Iran’s top commander, Qassem Soleimani. The 2015 agreement had curtailed Iran’s uranium enrichment, but Tehran has since increased enrichment to 60% purity, edging closer to weapons-grade levels, though it claims its program is peaceful.
Grenell, a staunch Trump ally, has held various roles, including ambassador to Germany, envoy for Serbia-Kosovo negotiations, and acting director of national intelligence. He was also considered for secretary of state and envoy for the Ukraine war before those roles went to Marco Rubio and Keith Kellogg, respectively. If appointed, Grenell’s role could test whether Tehran and Washington are willing to shift from confrontation to negotiation as Trump prepares to take office next month.
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