US Media: If Iran's Next Leader Is Pragmatic, Sanctions Could Be Lifted

On March 2, per The New York Times, former President Trump said in an interview the U.S. military could sustain attacks on Iran for four to five weeks if needed, noting Israel and the U.S. would have “no difficulty” keeping the conflict’s intensity. He also warned U.S. troops could face additional casualties. When asked about a power transition plan, Trump said he hoped Iran’s elite forces—including senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) officers, who hold major sway in the current regime and benefit from it—would turn over their weapons to the Iranian people. During a roughly six-minute chat, he also noted he has three “very good” candidates to lead Iran but declined to name them. He repeatedly cited his Venezuela experience, suggesting he thinks tactics that worked there could work for Iran. He also said he’d lift U.S. sanctions on Iran if new Iranian leadership acts pragmatically and cooperatively. However, he did not detail how— or whether— his administration would defend the Iranian people he said should oust the current regime. (FXStreet)