Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

Burt: Trump Will Not Allow Iran to Achieve Victory | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Ambassador Richard Burt (Photo by Marco Secchi/Getty Images)


London – U.S. Ambassador Richard Burt, who worked as an advisor to former U.S. Presidents Georges H. W. Bush and Ronald Reagan, said that President-elect Donald Trump would not allow Iran to achieve victory in Syria and Iraq.

In an interview with Asharq al-Awsat newspaper, Burt said that the new U.S. Administration would be strong enough to face Iranian threats.

“I believe that Gulf States, led by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, were concerned over the Iranian challenge”, the former presidential advisor said.

He added that the whole U.S. Administration, including the Pentagon, had negative concerns over Iran’s policies in the region.

Asked whether Trump would allow Iran to achieve victory in Iraq and Syrian, Burt said: “I think the clear answer to this question is no.”

On whether the world would be safer with the new president, Burt said he believed the world would be much safer in the wake of Trump’s victory.

He noted that Trump “believes in strength and does not want to engage in unnecessary wars.”

He added that the new president was confident that “in order to avoid a war, one should be strong”.

Burt also said that as a businessman, Trump knew how to build strong economic relationships and promote prosperity, which would decrease the chances of conflicts in the world.

Asked about Trump’s stance on crises in the Islamic world, the former presidential advisor said that enhancing living standards could solve conflicts in the Middle East.

He stressed in this regard that the United States would deploy fresh efforts to promote investments in the Middle East and enhance skills.

One of the main reasons behind terrorism is unemployment and misery, Burt said.

The new Trump Administration will work to encourage stability and restore prosperity in the region, he added.

“President Trump wants to spread a policy that supports stability in the countries and will not engage in a failed military conflict,” Burt stated.