The United States could lift the trade sanctions against Iran, but what would be the purpose of doing so? If the purpose is to negotiate with the regime, then there would have to be a point to that, as well.

The United States has tried to negotiate with the Iranian regime in the past with few results. In fact, negotiating has only served to prop up the regime. It is in America’s best interests for the regime to fall.

While sanctions alone may not topple the Iranian regime, they are an important part of America’s strategy. A bad Iranian economy creates unrest in that country that needs to be encouraged. Negotiating with the regime discourages dissenters.

The truth is that the Iranian regime is implacable. They don’t want to engage with the West because they don’t want Western influence changing Iran. The West is also a convenient scapegoat for regimes that routinely mismanage their economies the way the one in Iran does. The Iranian regime’s ultimate goal is to develop nuclear weapons. Any money they get from trade with the U.S. will be used for that purpose. The United States must prevent the Iranian regime from running out the clock.