The Limits of a President

Donald Trump will not cancel the deal with Iran: “What’s done is done.” Once more the work of experienced negotiators behind the scenes shines through − a bit of good news for the world.

The president’s appearance in the White House gave him the opportunity to air his discontent over the nuclear deal with Iran in an official arena. According to Trump’s speech on his Iran strategy, the “rogue” regime in Tehran has flouted the “spirit” of the agreement, supported terrorists and suppressed its own citizens. His cabinet and Congress will negotiate further terms for the U.S. to remain in the deal.

The rhetoric did not leave much room for diplomacy. But for those who feared a swift end to the deal, his appearance was, in fact, a piece of good news. As expected, Trump forewent recertifying the deal negotiated by his predecessors, which American law requires every 90 days. But more importantly, the president did not advise walking away from the deal − “What’s done is done,” said Trump.

The fact that the president’s pride and ego did not lead to the end of the deal and another international crisis is, above all, thanks to the finesse of the experienced members of his cabinet. Secretary of Defense James Mattis, National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson advocated remaining in the deal. With this compromise, they have demonstrated that they now know how to tame their leader.

Saved from Further Public Humiliation

Above all, this step is of symbolic meaning for Trump. The deal with Iran had become a personal nuisance for him. After all, while campaigning he had dubbed this, the greatest foreign policy success of his predecessor, Barack Obama, “an embarrassment” and “the single worst deal I have ever seen.” Newspapers had recently reported that the president had been increasingly infuriated and irritated that he has to certify the deal every 90 days – and in doing so, has to publicly admit that the deal is in fact serving its purpose. For Trump, this is tantamount to a humiliation that he wants to save himself from a third time.

His advisers are finally relenting, no longer urging him to get behind a deal that he so vehemently opposed as a candidate. However, the decision about the contract’s future is no longer in the fickle head of state’s hands – for the time being it will disappear into the corridors of Congress. He now has the next 60 days to counsel Congress on new sanctions − or whether to move on.

Supporters of the deal should be relieved. There may be big Iran skeptics among the Republicans; however, the likelihood of the deal collapsing altogether is slim. Experts in Washington and at the International Atomic Energy Agency are in agreement that the regime in Tehran is sticking to the agreement – reasonable concerns with regard to Iran’s breach of human rights, its support of Hezbollah or its missile tests do not change anything.

Trump Rants, His Secretary of State Mediates

In addition, there are other more pressing international crises with North Korea, an actual nuclear power. Even the most conservative politicians on Capitol Hill know that an end to the deal with Iran would destabilize the international state of affairs in the long term and would frighten off important partners in Europe and Asia. So above all, Trump’s appearance provides an insight into a dynamic relationship that must repeatedly absorb the shocks of his instinct-driven outbursts.

While Trump rails at North Korea over Twitter, behind the scenes his secretary of state strives for a diplomatic approach. While in public the president seeks a close relationship with Vladimir Putin, Congress is voting in new sanctions against Russia that are exempt from presidential veto. Even agreements like the trade deal with Mexico and Canada, which the brute-force candidate had predicted a swift end to while campaigning, are still in force thanks to the influence of experienced negotiators.

Without question, the Iran deal has been weakened without the U.S. president’s complete endorsement. New conditions for the U.S. to remain in the deal and the prospect of new sanctions are without doubt causing uncertainty. There is work in store for the diplomats in Washington and Tehran – the State Department, which is in any case understaffed, must calm the waves with Iran. However, the compromise that has been announced is the best-case scenario under Trump, and is a result that restores hope in that it reveals the limits of the president.