Asked about Nuclear Negotiations, Trump Implies Iran is Stalling ahead of Meetings in Rome on Easter Weekend
In a striking comment that signals growing impatience, former President Donald Trump responded to questions about this weekend’s nuclear negotiations with Iran by accusing Tehran of stalling, following backchannel talks in Oman and ahead of planned discussions in Rome over Easter weekend.
“They’re tapping us along,” Trump said, indicating that he thinks Iran is lightly nudging negotiations forward just enough to avoid confrontation, while continuing to make progress on its nuclear ambitions behind the scenes.
Alireza Jafarzadeh, Deputy Director of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), is an expert on the Iranian regime. He helped to expose the details of Iran’s nuclear program 20 years ago and has sources on the ground, in the region. His organization seeks the overthrow of the Mullahs and has a female candidate for President to replace them. Her name is Maryam Rajavi.
The timing of Trump’s critique is notable. With the Rome talks scheduled for Easter weekend—an emotionally charged period with heavy symbolism of renewal and redemption—Trump’s comments suggest he doesn’t see Iran approaching the table with sincere intent.
Alireza Jafarzadeh, a leading expert on Iran’s nuclear deception, would be the perfect voice to explore this moment. His insight into Iran’s long-standing tactics of delay and denial could shed light on how Tehran uses diplomacy as cover for continued nuclear progress—and why Trump’s “tapparoo” analogy may be more accurate than it first appears.
Would Jafarzadeh be interested in offering exclusive commentary tying together Trump’s remarks, the significance of the Easter weekend talks, and Iran’s broader negotiating playbook?
Alireza Jafarzadeh is available for interviews.
Schedule an interview with Jafarzadeh TODAY!
Related Article(s)
Optional Q&A
- Trump accused Iran of “tapping us along” in the nuclear negotiations, suggesting they’re stalling. Do you agree with his assessment—and what does that phrase reveal about the current state of diplomacy with Tehran?
- Given Iran’s history of using negotiations as a cover for nuclear advancement, how do you interpret the timing of the Oman talks and the upcoming Easter weekend meetings in Rome?
- Trump’s use of the phrase “tapparoo”—a reference to a pop culture moment about barely moving the ball forward—suggests Iran is intentionally dragging things out. Do you see any concrete signs that Iran is doing just that?
- What are the risks of continuing these negotiations if Iran is, in fact, using them to buy time?
- Do you think the U.S. and its allies are adequately equipped to detect and respond to Iran’s stalling tactics? Or are we falling into the same pattern seen during previous rounds of failed diplomacy?
- What should the Biden administration demand in Rome to avoid being played? Is there a clear line where diplomacy becomes appeasement?
- How do Iran’s internal pressures—economically, politically, or militarily—factor into its current negotiating posture? Are they truly interested in disarmament or simply avoiding new sanctions and military threats?
- If Iran is indeed “tapping along” and hoping to wait out a possible change in U.S. leadership after 2024, what should Western negotiators do now to counter that strategy and prevent further nuclear escalation?
ABOUT ALIREZA JAFARZADEH…
Alireza Jafarzadeh serves as the Deputy Director of the Washington Office of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI). He is also the author of The Iran Threat (Palgrave MacMillan, New York, 2008).
A recognized expert on Iranian policy, Jafarzadeh has been at the forefront of efforts to prevent the Iranian regime from acquiring nuclear weapons. His groundbreaking work in 2002 and 2003 led to the discovery of key illicit nuclear sites in Iran, including the Natanz uranium enrichment facility, the Arak heavy water plant, the Kalaye Electric centrifuge testing facility near Tehran, and the Lashkar Ab’ad laser enrichment facility. These revelations prompted the first-ever inspections of Iranian nuclear sites by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Jafarzadeh is a frequent guest on major television and radio networks, including CBS Evening News, CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, CNBC, Bloomberg TV, and France 24. His insights have also been featured in leading publications such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, Time, and The Hill.
ABOUT SHAHIN GOBADI…
Shahin Gobadi, a U.S.-educated nuclear engineer, is a member of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), Iran’s Parliament-in-Exile.
An astute observer of Iranian affairs for over three decades, Gobadi is an expert on topics including Iranian state-sponsored terrorism, proxy groups in the Middle East, the Iranian nuclear and weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programs, Western policy toward Iran, and internal Iranian affairs.
He has been interviewed by major international media outlets, including CNN, Fox News, BBC, Sky TV, GB News, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The Times, The Daily Telegraph, Reuters, and the Associated Press. Gobadi’s writings have appeared in prominent media across the U.S. and Europe.
ABOUT ALI SAFAVI…
Ali Safavi is a member of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), Iran’s Parliament-in-Exile.
A sociologist by training, Safavi studied and taught at UCLA, California State University Los Angeles, and the University of Michigan. He was an active participant in the anti-Shah student movement in the 1970s in the United States and has been deeply engaged in Iranian affairs ever since.
Safavi has lectured and written extensively on Iran, Iraq, terrorism, nuclear proliferation, and Middle Eastern politics. He has appeared in interviews on networks such as CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, CBS, BBC, Sky TV, Newsmax, and France 24. His articles and commentary have been published in leading outlets, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Hill, The Boston Herald, The Washington Times, and The Financial Times.
CONTACT: For further details or to arrange the interview, please contact Jerry McGlothlin at 919-437-0001 / Bookings@SeasonalLiving.com
