Sputnik- With the US presidential elections already behind us, it remains to be seen whether Donald Trump will manage to open a new page in the history of American foreign policy and change its stance on Iran, political commentator Sabbah Zanganeh told Sputnik Persian.
In an interview with Sputnik Persian, Iranian political commentator and former advisor tothe Iranian Foreign Minister Sabbah Zanganeh said that only time will tell whether US President-elect Donald Trump will be able toopen a new page inAmerican foreign policy's history and change its stance onIran.
The interview came afterDonald Trump's eyebrow-raising victory inthe November 8 presidential elections inthe United States, inwhich he managed toget the better ofDemocratic candidate Hillary Clinton. Speaking toSputnik, Sabbah Zanganeh described moves byall the US presidents toward Iran asindicative ofa negative policy pursued by "an aggressor state." In this regard, one should wait and see how Donald Trump will act, given that he was not involved inWashington's previous aggressive policy towardsIran. "Let's see whether he can really open a new page inthe history ofAmerican foreign policy and offer a new way ofdevelopment, pursuing a fair policy based onrespect forthe sovereignty ofother countries," Zanganeh said.
It's too early tosay whether Iranians are satisfied withTrump' election victory, he said, atthe same time pointing tothe fact that Iranians were earlier impressed byTrump's pre-election rhetoric onmany pressing international issues.
"Only uponassessing his policies asthe US leader, will Iran will be able todraw some conclusions and build plans forpossible cooperation withthe US," Zanganeh said. He added that Trump is "currently facing a test ofstrength and that it remains tobe seen whether he will pursue a policy ofrapprochement withRussia and Iran and take the most effective measures againstDaesh (ISIL/ISIS) and its sponsors." Zanganeh described Trump's election win asan indicator ofthe American people's "rebellion" and protest againstthe Democratic Party and even the Republicans. "His victory is a new milestone inhistory, because his policy is drastically different fromthe traditional dogmas and the foundations ofthe two American political parties. Trump's win was supported bythose who condemn the internal and external policies ofboth major US parties," Zanganeh pointed out.
Addressing his supporters onWednesday, US President-Elect Donald Trump pledged that "every single American will have an opportunity torealize his or her potential."
He promised torebuild US infrastructure, put millions ofpeople towork and "renew the American dream." He also pledged toalways put US interests first and to "get alongwell" withall nations willing toget alongwith the US. He added that Washington would seek "common ground, not hostility" and "partnership, not conflict."