Trump's Initial Cabinet Composition; Support for the People of Iran and Maximum Pressure on the Islamic Republic

As Ali Khamenei remains silent and the tone of Islamic Republic officials changes following Donald Trump's re-election to the White House and the introduction of some key members of his cabinet, experts say that the U.S. will maximize its support for the people of Iran while applying maximum pressure on the regime. Trump's nominees for the positions of Secretary of State and National Security Advisor indicate that these two figures have previously taken strong stances against Islamic Republic officials and supported peaceful protests by the Iranian people. Behnam Talablu, a senior researcher at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, stated on Tuesday, November 22, regarding the outlook of Trump's cabinet in relation to the Islamic Republic and the future of the Iranian people: "The future Trump cabinet is taking shape, but the number of individuals introduced shows that they support maximum support for the people of Iran and maximum pressure on the Islamic Republic and its leaders." He noted the previous Trump administration's confrontation with the Islamic Republic's nuclear policies, adding: "The Trump administration's priority for resolving this issue will initially be diplomatic, but if the Islamic Republic reacts negatively and increases its enrichment capacity, it will face political consequences and possibly military aggression." Shahriar Shahid Talib, a journalist and political analyst, also commented on the evening news program of Voice of America, stating: "Donald Trump sent contradictory messages to the Islamic Republic during his election campaign, and it is still unclear what decision he will make regarding the regime in the future." He described a potential attack by the Islamic Republic on Israel before Trump's inauguration as a "catastrophic miscalculation" and added: "If Iranian officials take such action, a new plan for the Islamic Republic will be designed and implemented in the U.S., ultimately leading to the collapse of the Islamic Republic and causing prolonged unrest in Iran." According to media reports, 53-year-old Marco Rubio, a Republican senator from Florida, is likely Trump's choice for Secretary of State, known for his hardline positions against the Islamic Republic of Iran, Cuba, and China. Mike Waltz, a Florida lawmaker in the U.S. House of Representatives and a former U.S. Army officer, is also expected to become Trump's National Security Advisor and succeed Jake Sullivan. He is also known for his hardline positions against China and the Islamic Republic of Iran. It is noteworthy that the Iranian Foreign Minister on Tuesday, November 22, posted in English on X addressing Donald Trump, but without directly mentioning him, urging the elected U.S. president to replace "maximum pressure" with "maximum rationality." Abbas Araqchi interpreted the result of the U.S. "maximum pressure" policy during Trump's previous term as a "maximum failure" for the U.S., citing the current state of Iran's nuclear program as evidence. He also warned the Trump administration that attempts to impose a "second version of maximum pressure" would only lead to a "second version of maximum failure."