PODCAST- Trump's second presidency may be soft on Iran, says John Bolton

A former Donald Trump top advisor revealed to Iran International that a second Trump presidency may have a 'zeal for a deal,' leading to negotiations with the Iranian government and a lessening of confrontations.

John Bolton, a former US national security adviser and long-time proponent of regime change in Iran, told the Eye for Iran podcast that Donald Trump would be likely to compromise with Tehran rather than seek the overthrow of the cleric-ruled system.

Bolton, who was in his role from 2018 to 2019, added he had advocated many times for the then-US president to take action against Iran.

"I never convinced him that regime change was the only, ultimate answer," Bolton said, in reference to Trump.

Bolton's experience as an insider to the first Trump administration has led him to believe when it came to Trump's decision-making, there were no guarantees.

"Even when he makes a decision, we used to say it's never final until it's final and then sometimes it's still not final."

"The zeal for the deal is very strong in Trump and I think it could lead him into negotiations," said Bolton on 'Eye for Iran.'

He recalled Trump's historic handshake with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un at the heavily fortified Demilitarized Zone in Jan. 2019. Trump had actually inflamed tensions prior to that with his threats to rain “fire and fury” on North Korea, before embracing a diplomatic approach.

"Don't put it past Trump to do the same with Iran," said Bolton.

There are many Iranian-Americans holding onto hope that Trump would present a different option than President Joe Biden when it comes to being tough on Iran, but Bolton painted a different picture.

"Despite the very strong rhetoric he [Trump] often employs, when it comes down to it, he's not willing to take tough action. In that respect, ironically he's not that different than Biden."

Find out why Bolton believes Trump is 'afraid' to do anything 'significant' in Iran by watching or listening to the full podcast episode with Ambassador John Bolton on Eye for Iran.

To watch click on Iran International's YouTube Page for Podcasts, or Listen to episode 7 of Eye for Iran on Spotify, Apple or Amazon.