Vatanka Reports
News and Analysis on the Greater Middle East
Iran, Europe, and a new US ambassador in Berlin
July 30, 2020
<p class="font_8">On July 27, the White House announced that President Donald Trump has appointed retired U.S. Army Colonel Douglas Macgregor to be the <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/president-donald-j-trump-announces-intent-nominate-appoint-following-individuals-key-administration-posts-072720/" target="_blank">next American ambassador</a> to Berlin. Macgregor, a man who since he retired from the military in 2004 has articulated the need for an overhaul of U.S. <a href="https://www.politico.eu/article/trump-taps-renegade-retired-colonel-for-germany-ambassador-post/" target="_blank">military and foreign policies</a>, has plenty of both supporters and critics in Washington. It turns out, he is quickly dividing Iranians as well. Macgregor’s appointment is already seen by some in Tehran as about more than just an American <a href="https://www.khabaronline.ir/news/1415655/%D8%A2%DB%8C%D8%A7-%D8%A8%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D9%85%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%B8%D8%B1-%D8%AA%D8%BA%DB%8C%DB%8C%D8%B1-%D8%B3%DB%8C%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA-%D9%87%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%A2%D9%85%D8%B1%DB%8C%DA%A9%D8%A7-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B4%DB%8C%D9%85" target="_blank">military drawdown in Germany</a>: it is seen as a sign of a broader American policy reorientation in Europe and beyond. While there is clearly an element of wishful thinking on Tehran’s part, if true, this could be good news for the Islamic Republic, which is teetering under the Trump administration’s “maximum pressure” campaign. After all, Macgregor has on record repeatedly <a href="https://www.jns.org/trump-to-nominate-retired-colonel-who-downplays-iran-threat-points-fingers-at-jews/" target="_blank">questioned Washington’s policy toward Tehran</a>.</p>
Iran, Europe, and a new US ambassador in Berlin
July 30, 2020
<p class="font_8">On July 27, the White House announced that President Donald Trump has appointed retired U.S. Army Colonel Douglas Macgregor to be the <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/president-donald-j-trump-announces-intent-nominate-appoint-following-individuals-key-administration-posts-072720/" target="_blank">next American ambassador</a> to Berlin. Macgregor, a man who since he retired from the military in 2004 has articulated the need for an overhaul of U.S. <a href="https://www.politico.eu/article/trump-taps-renegade-retired-colonel-for-germany-ambassador-post/" target="_blank">military and foreign policies</a>, has plenty of both supporters and critics in Washington. It turns out, he is quickly dividing Iranians as well. Macgregor’s appointment is already seen by some in Tehran as about more than just an American <a href="https://www.khabaronline.ir/news/1415655/%D8%A2%DB%8C%D8%A7-%D8%A8%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D9%85%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%B8%D8%B1-%D8%AA%D8%BA%DB%8C%DB%8C%D8%B1-%D8%B3%DB%8C%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA-%D9%87%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%A2%D9%85%D8%B1%DB%8C%DA%A9%D8%A7-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B4%DB%8C%D9%85" target="_blank">military drawdown in Germany</a>: it is seen as a sign of a broader American policy reorientation in Europe and beyond. While there is clearly an element of wishful thinking on Tehran’s part, if true, this could be good news for the Islamic Republic, which is teetering under the Trump administration’s “maximum pressure” campaign. After all, Macgregor has on record repeatedly <a href="https://www.jns.org/trump-to-nominate-retired-colonel-who-downplays-iran-threat-points-fingers-at-jews/" target="_blank">questioned Washington’s policy toward Tehran</a>.</p>
Iran, Europe, and a new US ambassador in Berlin
July 30, 2020
<p class="font_8">On July 27, the White House announced that President Donald Trump has appointed retired U.S. Army Colonel Douglas Macgregor to be the <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/president-donald-j-trump-announces-intent-nominate-appoint-following-individuals-key-administration-posts-072720/" target="_blank">next American ambassador</a> to Berlin. Macgregor, a man who since he retired from the military in 2004 has articulated the need for an overhaul of U.S. <a href="https://www.politico.eu/article/trump-taps-renegade-retired-colonel-for-germany-ambassador-post/" target="_blank">military and foreign policies</a>, has plenty of both supporters and critics in Washington. It turns out, he is quickly dividing Iranians as well. Macgregor’s appointment is already seen by some in Tehran as about more than just an American <a href="https://www.khabaronline.ir/news/1415655/%D8%A2%DB%8C%D8%A7-%D8%A8%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D9%85%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%B8%D8%B1-%D8%AA%D8%BA%DB%8C%DB%8C%D8%B1-%D8%B3%DB%8C%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA-%D9%87%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%A2%D9%85%D8%B1%DB%8C%DA%A9%D8%A7-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B4%DB%8C%D9%85" target="_blank">military drawdown in Germany</a>: it is seen as a sign of a broader American policy reorientation in Europe and beyond. While there is clearly an element of wishful thinking on Tehran’s part, if true, this could be good news for the Islamic Republic, which is teetering under the Trump administration’s “maximum pressure” campaign. After all, Macgregor has on record repeatedly <a href="https://www.jns.org/trump-to-nominate-retired-colonel-who-downplays-iran-threat-points-fingers-at-jews/" target="_blank">questioned Washington’s policy toward Tehran</a>.</p>
Iran, Europe, and a new US ambassador in Berlin
July 30, 2020
<p class="font_8">On July 27, the White House announced that President Donald Trump has appointed retired U.S. Army Colonel Douglas Macgregor to be the <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/president-donald-j-trump-announces-intent-nominate-appoint-following-individuals-key-administration-posts-072720/" target="_blank">next American ambassador</a> to Berlin. Macgregor, a man who since he retired from the military in 2004 has articulated the need for an overhaul of U.S. <a href="https://www.politico.eu/article/trump-taps-renegade-retired-colonel-for-germany-ambassador-post/" target="_blank">military and foreign policies</a>, has plenty of both supporters and critics in Washington. It turns out, he is quickly dividing Iranians as well. Macgregor’s appointment is already seen by some in Tehran as about more than just an American <a href="https://www.khabaronline.ir/news/1415655/%D8%A2%DB%8C%D8%A7-%D8%A8%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D9%85%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%B8%D8%B1-%D8%AA%D8%BA%DB%8C%DB%8C%D8%B1-%D8%B3%DB%8C%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA-%D9%87%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%A2%D9%85%D8%B1%DB%8C%DA%A9%D8%A7-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B4%DB%8C%D9%85" target="_blank">military drawdown in Germany</a>: it is seen as a sign of a broader American policy reorientation in Europe and beyond. While there is clearly an element of wishful thinking on Tehran’s part, if true, this could be good news for the Islamic Republic, which is teetering under the Trump administration’s “maximum pressure” campaign. After all, Macgregor has on record repeatedly <a href="https://www.jns.org/trump-to-nominate-retired-colonel-who-downplays-iran-threat-points-fingers-at-jews/" target="_blank">questioned Washington’s policy toward Tehran</a>.</p>