U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack said Iran’s government was “not an evil regime” at a Doha forum on Oct. 20, adding a diplomatic contrast to Washington’s sanctions campaign against Tehran.
The National and Jewish Insider both reported the remark. Barrack described Iran as a theocracy and called the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) an adversary. He also said, “The IRGC has become an adversary.”
Barrack argued for negotiations, saying past U.S. efforts to change governments in the region had failed. He cited distrust of the IRGC as an obstacle to a deal, the outlets reported.
Jewish Insider reported that Barrack’s settlement proposal paired relief for Iranian civilians with a ceasefire and opening international waterways.
The White House’s Aug. 24 release quoted Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent describing Iran’s government as the “evil Iranian regime.” It announced new sanctions determinations in five sectors: digital assets, technology, gold, aviation and shipping. Bessent said the campaign aimed to cut revenue to Iran’s government and increase risks for people doing business with it.
On March 1, the White House said President Donald Trump had authorized a military campaign targeting what it described as Iran’s nuclear threat, ballistic missile arsenal and naval forces. Barrack’s remarks at the forum put negotiations forward alongside the administration’s publicly stated economic and military pressure on Iran.
