Becky Anderson -. CNN: Five days before the US midterm elections, I asked the US ambassador to Turkey, Tom Burke, during CNN's Global Visions program, about the Trump administration's position on Iran, and whether we are headed for diplomacy or renewed conflict. This is what he said:
Brack:
In this video you will see how Qatar, Pakistan and all our allies are working to help us get to the negotiating table, where we can agree on a course of action. We are close, and I believe we are very close to finally reaching the stage where we say: let's give it some time. We will not immediately reach a specific solution, but we can give the region a chance to find its own rhythm. And some of that is happening today. I think you may see significant steps forward in the next two weeks, which is what our president really wants to accomplish. Anchor: Will there be a quick and strong American move at this point? Is this option on the table, or is it just a lot of noise? Brack:
I think there is one thing you can be sure of: there is no talk of using force without seriousness. A call for military action is being taken seriously by everyone in this administration, including the president. And what you see before you now is giving every possible opportunity to avoid it. There are also multiple interests that limit the options available. But you can be sure that in the next two or three weeks every effort will be made to avoid reaching a dead end, and instead work on taking the right next steps, which will allow this complex, labyrinth-like mechanism to start working and progress. However, as you can see, the challenges are growing. With the emergence of additional problems, whether related to Somalia and the reactivation of pirates, or what is happening in other sensitive and strategic areas, the difficulties multiply. The United States cannot solve everything.