FOREIGN POLICY/IRAN/SANCTIONS/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT/TRUMP PEOPLE: “President Donald Trump confirmed Friday [7-19-19] that Sen. Rand Paul is involved in diplomatic talks with Iran, referring to the country as ‘nothing but trouble.’ The Kentucky Republican has long been an opponent of U.S. intervention in Iran. POLITICO reported earlier this week that he had asked for Trump’s blessing to arrange a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in hopes of avoiding further conflict with the country. Trump had said he was unaware of plans to include Paul in talks with Iran. But he acknowledged the senator’s role Friday while responding to a question about the administration’s plan to calm tensions after Iran’s seizure of a British oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz…This week, Zarif criticized U.S. foreign policies and told reporters during a visit to the United Nations headquarters in New York that the onus is on the United States to ease tensions with Iran. He said Iran would be open to more enhanced inspections of its nuclear program in exchange for the U.S. lifting sanctions on the country.”
–Maya King, “Trump: Sen. Rand Paul to help with Iran negotiations,” Politico, July 19, 2019 4:36 pm