The former U.S. President Trump has recently been in all the rounds in the media, saying Iran got him a “very big present” to be given he said it was “great money,” but it had nothing to do with nuclear weapons. What does “a big present” really mean, is “a real concession”, what does Trump’s “present” mean all along? And where do we see it in the bigger U.S. relationship with Iran?
Trump told reporters Iran provided him with a “significant prize” to the United States. He went on that it’s not nuclear and rather oil and gas. Which he said was evidence “we’re dealing with the right people” that made all of it work and so on. He didn’t say much about what the current state was like; it is clear, though, that it was a diplomatic concession or an agreement on energy deliveries, or maybe his way of selling talks.
Trump and Iran have long had poor relations including nuclear programs, sanctions between the two countries, and regional conflicts. Oil and gas is central to Iran's economy, so any deal or concession at any depth in this area will be a gamechanger for the global markets. Some argue that Trump was pointing to Iran’s desire to ease restrictions around the Strait of Hormuz (which is a major shipping route for oil). And even as Iran has made public its commitments not to develop nuclear weapons, they’re also seen as a “gift” to Iranian leaders.
Iranian officials have denied that Trump delivered any “present.” They saw Trump’s remarks as an overstatement and said no such prize was offered. So there has resulted in confusion over whether Trump could be referring to a “real deal” and not political rhetoric designed to sow seeds of peace in a political atmosphere regarding nuclear relations with Iran.
Trump’s words calling the diplomatic move “present” are unusual too. They reflect his approach, which is all about the drama when it comes to the world of politics. And while his supporters might view this as evidence that diplomacy is working in contrast to how diplomatic players are seen, it risks conflating the nuance of such trade talks.
So what we are left with for sure of Trump’s claim that “very big present” in the form of Iran is “foreign money” remains opaque and disputed as well. What the statement has done is focus attention on the ongoing U.S.-Iran relationship in terms of oil, gas and security of those sectors. Whether it’s true or just a crude act of politicking with other countries and national relations the episode is a great example of the power of our language & framing and the impact of that on public perceptions of the world’s diplomatic relationships.
