The White House’s approach to Iran has been characterised as a ‘flip-flop’ by senior British diplomatic sources, following a weekend of mixed signals from the Trump administration. The critique comes as Downing Street intensifies its efforts to preserve the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
In a series of televised remarks on Sunday, President Trump appeared to vacillate between threatening military action and offering diplomatic engagement with Tehran. ‘We are not looking for regime change. We are looking for a deal,’ he told reporters. Hours earlier, his national security adviser, John Bolton, had warned of ‘unrelenting force’ if Iran crossed established red lines.
British diplomats, who have long urged Washington to remain within the multilateral framework of the JCPOA, expressed frustration at the inconsistency. ‘The policy appears to be made on the hoof. One day it is maximum pressure, the next it is a charm offensive. This is no way to manage a complex relationship with a state like Iran,’ a Foreign Office official said.
The diplomatic friction surfaced during a series of hurried bilateral meetings at the UN General Assembly in New York. Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt pressed his American counterpart, Mike Pompeo, for a clearer commitment to the JCPOA’s survival. However, US sources indicated that the administration remains divided between hardliners favouring regime change and pragmatists seeking a negotiated settlement.
European allies, particularly France and Germany, have also grown increasingly vocal in their criticism of what they perceive as Washington’s erratic policy. The EU’s foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, reiterated Europe’s determination to maintain economic ties with Iran through the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) designed to bypass US sanctions.
Analysts suggest that the mixed messaging from Washington undermines the credibility of US diplomacy in a region already fraught with volatility. ‘Consistency is the currency of statecraft. When a superpower flip-flops, it emboldens adversaries and alienates allies,’ said Dr. Patricia Lewis, a former director of the UN Institute for Disarmament Research.
The diplomatic row coincides with an upsurge in tensions in the Persian Gulf, where the US has deployed additional naval assets following attacks on oil tankers. Iran has denied involvement and warned of severe consequences for any military action against its interests.
White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham dismissed the British criticisms as ‘unhelpful noise’ and insisted that the president was keeping all options on the table. ‘This administration is committed to ensuring Iran never develops a nuclear weapon. We will use all instruments of national power to achieve that goal,’ she said.
Despite the diplomatic discord, both sides acknowledge the need for de-escalation. Downing Street is reportedly exploring a renewed push for a broader framework agreement that could address Iran’s ballistic missile programme and regional activities, while offering sanctions relief. Such a deal, however, remains a distant prospect given the current atmosphere of mutual distrust.
