There has been no public comment from the Trump administration on the details of the loan program discussed by the president. But U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, speaking to
In another VOA Persian interview, Doug Bandow, a senior foreign policy analyst at the Cato Institute, said he believes Trump recognizes that Tehran needs financial help. “He doesn’t want them to get the money from conventional means because he wants to maintain his policy of maximum pressure,” Bandow said. “He’s looking for an alternative, but I’m not convinced this one will work.”
Bandow said he doubts Iran will accept loans in place of selling its oil to international customers. Iran relies on oil exports for most of its revenue, but its exports have been cut significantly since Washington unilaterally banned all nations from buying Iranian crude in May as part of the U.S. sanctions campaign.
“And who wants to give a loan (to Iran) unless you are guaranteed that the oil (that secures the loan) will be sold and Iran will pay (the loan) back. Otherwise (the creditors) are going to get stuck with a great big IOU (from Iran),” Bandow added.
Ilan Berman, senior vice president of the American Foreign Policy Council, said developing a credit line for Iran is a mistake. “Any alleviation of pressure would give the Iranian regime breathing room and harden its position ahead of any negotiations,” Berman told VOA Persian. “The Trump administration’s pressure is very clearly working, and it wouldn’t make strategic sense to lessen it or to roll it back in advance of getting anything tangible from Iran.”