After a hiatus of three years, a series that began nearly fifty years ago is expected to return to global screens with a new season: Uncle Sam Woos the Mullahs of Tehran.
The new season's launch began with a letter sent by US President Donald Trump to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei three weeks ago, reportedly inviting him to a friendly direct meeting.
Former US President Jimmy Carter had sent a similar letter to Khomeini while he was in exile in a Paris suburb in 1978, delivered by former US Attorney General Ramsey Clark. Carter wrote another letter to Khomeini a year later when Khomeini took power in Tehran, delivered by Carter’s National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski.
Despite these efforts and further attempts by successive presidents, including Ronald Reagan, who sent a five-page letter with gifts to Khomeini, and subsequent entreaties by George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama, none managed to establish the hoped-for friendly relations.
Trump's first presidency interrupted Obama's plan with his own strategy of maximal pressure on Tehran, again involving direct communication with Khamenei, though initially met with rejection.
In his second term, Trump has reached out again, and this time Khamenei accepted the letter and even responded, despite previously stating that engaging with Trump is "disgraceful."
Current diplomacy points to potential indirect talks, with Tehran aiming either to blame Trump for any failure or to delay long enough for US midterm election outcomes to potentially weaken Trump.
Several countries have been suggested as possible intermediaries, including Switzerland and Pakistan, with hints from Russia expressing interest in mediating. Oman has shown preference, but there are apprehensions about its proximity to Iran.
Talks, if they occur, will need to address specific agendas, with Tehran looking to limit discussions to nuclear issues in exchange for sanctions relief. Khamenei claims confidence in manipulating US presidents, drawing from a long history of strategic maneuvering.