Former Obama officials go behind Trump’s back in talks with Iran, Democrats: report

June 1, 2019

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A bombshell report from the Daily Beast reveals that former Obama administration officials are quietly advising Iran on how to respond to the Trump administration.

Three former Obama officials admitted that they are talking with Iranian government officials, and have also spoken with Democrats in Congress about the Iran situation.

U.S.-Iran tensions

In recent weeks, tensions rose between the United States and Iran. May 28th marked the one-year anniversary since President Trump withdrewfrom the Iran Nuclear Deal, the “horrible” accomplishment of former President Barack Obama.

Unlike his predecessor, Trump has taken a hardline stance with Iran, telling its leaders that “they cannot have nuclear weapons.” Accustomed to the more conciliatory approach of Obama, a furious Iran respondedwith the threats of stockpiling enriched uranium and of further violations.

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Trump responded by sending 1,500 troops to the Middle East as a cautionary measure.

But now, some Republicans fear that Trump’s strategy to contain a dangerous Iran might be being undermined.

Obama officials still in talks with Iran

Three Obama administration officials are said to have been holding “normal” conversations with members of the Iranian government. These individuals additionally recently briefed Democrats in Congress about how to handle the Iran situation.

According to the Daily Beast, at least one official’s message to Iran was: “Don’t take Trump’s bait. Stay calm.” Other officials “are trying to keep the roots of the Iran nuclear deal alive by taking the pulse of lawmakers on Capitol Hill to gauge whether they are in favor of restarting talks in the future.”

 

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Iran

As one Republican aide told the Daily Beast, this is concerning — particularly if they are taking a position different from that of the Trump administration.

“It’s not just about what they were saying to the Iranians,” said the aide. “It’s about what they were saying to their political allies back here in the U.S. Their strategy was to divide and isolate the Trump administration just as the Trump administration was trying to re-establish deterrence with Iran. In the current highly partisan political environment, the only safe course is to signal national unity — and they contributed to eroding that at home and abroad.”

“This would explain how they all ended up echoing the same talking points about Bolton and warmongering at the same time. Obama administration officials have been shuttling between the Hill and Iranian officials to help make sure everybody is on the same page,” a Republican staffer told the Washington Examiner.

Breaking the rules

You would think that there would be a rule against a former government official talking to members of a foreign government — and there is.

The Logan Act, passed in 1799, makes illegal the diplomatic talks of private citizens with a foreign government without authorization. The problem, however, is that it is rarely asserted, and no one has ever been found to have violated it.

Nonetheless, if former Obama officials really are undermining Trump’s efforts, something needs to be done. Obama’s administration has already caused enough trouble in Iran.