Tasnim – A peace activist and journalist based in the US state of Virginia said President Donald Trump is aware that most of Americans are strongly opposed to military actions against Iran and that any war against the Islamic Republic would destroy his chances for re-election.

“President Trump is no doubt aware that almost 3/4ths of Americans polled prefer diplomatic solutions over military actions regarding Iran,” Janice Kortkamp from Leesburg, Virginia, said in an interview with Tasnim.

“War against Iran would destroy his chances for re-election in my opinion; most of the public are no longer ‘buying’ the false narratives being sold by the regime change warmongers in DC,” she added.

Janice Kortkamp became an independent, completely self-funded, journalist after “seeing Western media bias regarding Syria and how that bias was promoting war and destabilization in Syria and all the Levant”. She has researched the current crisis for six years, putting in over 7,000 hours of study. She has visited Syria five times over the past three years, spending months traveling around the major population areas and the outskirts of Damascus, Homs, Latakia (including Kessab), Hama, Palmyra, Deir Ezzor and Aleppo. She has also gone to Germany, Lebanon, and Kuwait to meet with Syrian refugees and emigrants. Through friends and contacts in Syria as well as reports from genuine news sources around the world, she tracks the situation on the ground in Syria on an hourly basis.

Following is the full text of the interview:

Tasnim: On Tuesday, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei deplored the US’ calls for talks with Iran as a trick and said Tehran will not negotiate bilaterally or multilaterally with Washington at any level. What do you think about Ayatollah Khamenei's remarks?

Kortkamp: There is no reason to assume any good will or integrity regarding negotiations from the American side towards Iran based on history so Ayatollah Khamenei’s remarks make total sense. Why negotiate with a power that has dealt so treacherously and aggressively? How to trust the United States after its disastrous wars and interventions just over the past 16 years in the region? However, the quite reasonable counter response by Iran of being willing to engage in multilateral talks should the US comply with the 2015 nuclear deal and end its hostile stance and sanctions is one that should be taken very seriously by the American administration.

Tasnim: Iran sees the United States’ calls for negotiation as a trick and part of the so-called “maximum pressure” campaign which has failed to force the Islamic Republic to give in to US demands. How do you assess Iran's policy of “active resistance” against the US pressures?

Kortkamp: One has to consider the big picture to make sense of the daily shifting details. Why is the US applying “maximum pressure” on the Islamic Republic of Iran to begin with? What are Iran’s “crimes”? Iran has been 100% in compliance with the terms of the JCPOA agreement. Iran has signed the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. Iran has been fighting ISIS and al Qaeda in Syria. Iran hasn’t invaded another country in centuries. Tragically, America’s foreign policy is so inextricably tied to Israel’s expansionist ambitions and Saudi oil that non-crimes are turned upside down and inside-out and propagandized as justification for economic, covert and military warfare. Resistance is therefore necessary. American politicians and decision makers know next to nothing about Iran. Most have never been nor have ever listened to Iran’s concerns and grievances – their “understanding” comes primarily from hostile regional powers and is therefore immeasurably flawed, in fact often they’ve been given outright intelligence fabrications.

Tasnim: Iran has said the US' return to the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and the removal of sanctions against the Islamic Republic is the only way that Washington can hold talks with Tehran. How do you see the prospects of open diplomacy between Iran and the US as well as the other parties to the JCPOA?

Kortkamp: If the US would end its actions to try to achieve hegemony in the Middle East and unshackle itself from the demands of the pro-Israel lobby, Israeli officials, and Saudi Arabia by entering into mutually respectful and beneficial relations with Iran, the result would be highly advantageous for not only the US and Iran but the rest of the region as well. The key is showing respect for the sovereignty of the countries of the region and replacing the current violence and chaos with the stability required for increased prosperity and ability to plan for future generations for everyone.

President Trump is no doubt aware that almost 3/4ths of Americans polled prefer diplomatic solutions over military actions regarding Iran. Much of his support during the last election was from people here who are against war as a policy and if he wants to get re-elected he must prove that he intends to follow through – and is capable of following through – on those election promises. So far his record on those promises is dismal. War against Iran would destroy his chances for re-election in my opinion; most of the public are no longer “buying” the false narratives being sold by the regime change warmongers in DC.

Tasnim: Can we regard the Islamic Republic's strategy of “active resistance” against the US pressures as successful?

Kortkamp: So far I would say yes though it’s been such a difficult time for the Iranian people and we won’t know the long term consequences for quite a while. What happens in Israel’s upcoming elections will affect this as will the election process and election results in the US. What is looking hopeful is that some European leaders are starting to balk at US policies and are wanting to save the JCPOA. If Iran is successful in maintaining their support for the deal that will be hugely significant I believe.