The Takeaway: December 4, 2019

Our take: US President Donald Trump and his administration have come out in support of the protesters, including internet freedom — and rightly so. The optics, given Iran’s response to the protesters, seem ill suited for a US-Iran sit down, but that could change. Washington should not be over-invested in an “emerging belief” in a capitulation or collapse because of maximum pressure. Diplomacy, as an instrument of policy, remains an option, if there is an opening, and as a means to avoid conflict, as CNN reports on US intelligence reports of possible new threats to US troops in the region. One possible breakthrough would be Iran, finally, releasing the Americans jailed there. Laura Rozen reported last month on some possible traction for an exchange of prisoners. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in May that it is “absolutely the case that were [Iran] to release these Americans who are wrongfully held, it would be a good thing. It would be a step in the right direction for sure.” This would be a huge win for Trump and overdue for those unjustly detained, as well as a “step in the right direction’ for US-Iran diplomacy.