Amanpour and Company

AND THERE WAS ALL SORTS OF WORRY OR THOUGHT THAT MAYBE THERE MIGHT BE AN OCTOBER SURPRISE AROUND SOME KIND OF ACTION IN THE PERSIAN GULF OR ELSEWHERE. BUT IRAN IS BASICALLY KEEPING ITS POWDER DRY. THE CHIEF SUPREME LEADER IS TELLING HIS PEOPLE, DO NOT DO ANYTHING PROVOCATIVE. WE DON'T WANT TO GET INTO ANY FIGHT BEFORE THE ELECTION. IS THAT WHAT YOU HEAR? IS THAT AN ACCURATE READING? IF SO, WHY? >> I THINK IT IS ACCURATE. WHY HAVE WE PROVOKED THEM INTO SOME KIND OF ACTION? AND THE IRANIANS HAVE DECIDED IT IS NOT IN THEIR ADVANTAGE TO GO TO WAR AND THEY DON'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING TO HELP TRUMP. THAT'S WHY THEY ARE DOCUMENTING A WAIT AND SEE ATTITUDE. THEY THINK IF IT BENEFITS PRESIDENT TRUMP, THEY DON'T WANT TO PLAY THAT GAME IF THEY CAN HELP IT. AND I THINK THEY'RE WATCHING VERY CAREFULLY TO SEE WHETHER THERE WILL BE A CHANGE OF ADMINISTRATION. AFTER ALL, THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS SAID THAT IT WANTS TO DE-ESCALATE TENSIONS IN THE MIDDLE EAST. IT WANTS TO GO BACK INTO THE DEAL AND IT MAY NOT FOLLOW THE STRATEGY THAT'S THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS DONE. SO IT'S LOGICAL FOR THE RANDLIAN TOSSES TRY SURVIVE UNTIL JANEL 20th AND WHETHER THERE'S A PATH FOR THE UNITED STATES TEMPERATURE POINT. ANY KIND OF A MILITARY CONFRONTATION AT THIS POINT WITH THE UNITED STATES AT THIS TIME POINT, WOULD MAKE THAT OUTCOME LESS LIKELY. SO I THINK THE IRANIANS ARE FOLLOWING A VERY CLEAR STRATEGY OF WHAT THEY CALL PATIENCE. >> SO ELLIOT ABRAMS TALKED ABOUT IT. IT IS CORRECT. THE REALITY THE, PEOPLE ARE FINDING IT REALLY, REALLY DIFFICULT. MEDICAL SUPPLIES HAVEN'T BEEN FORTHCOMING. THERE IS A MASSIVE NUMBER OF INFECTIONS AND DEATHS. AS I MENTIONED, THE FOREIGN MINISTER SAID IF YOU THINK IT WILL BRING US TO OUR KNEES, IT IS NOT. WHAT SHOULD THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION DO IN ORDER TO GET IRAN BACK MORE OR LESS TO WHERE IT WOULD LIKE THE SEE AMERICA WOULD LIKE TO SEE IRAN IN TERMS OF INTERNATIONAL BEHAVIOR AND ALL THE ISSUES THAT IT SAYS IT WANTS IRAN TO CHANGE. >> WELL, I THINK PARTLY WITH THIS ADMINISTRATION, ONE OF THE PROBLEMS IS NOT JUST THE SANCTION. IT HAS BEEN VERY CAUSTIC AND VERY INSULTING TONE IN WHICH IT SAYS ABOUT IRAN AND ITS LEADERS. VERY DIFFICULT TO GET AROUND THE TABLE WITH PEOPLE WITH WHOM YOU NAME CALL AND CALL LAWYERS AND THINGS OF. SORT. SO CHANGE OF LANGUAGE UNDER A NOW ADMINISTRATION WOULD BE IMPORTANT.