Vasco Rato states that negotiating with Iran requires, above all, a change in the behavior of countries that are close to Iran. This position arises in the context of an analysis of international relations and the way the United States and other Western countries have approached the Iranian issue.
According to Vasco Rato, the true objective of secondary sanctions is not merely to punish Iran directly, but rather to alter the behavior of third countries that maintain relations with Tehran. Through these sanctions, an attempt is made to create a progressive isolation of the country on the international stage.
Secondary sanctions function as a pressure mechanism on nations that might otherwise continue to do business or cooperate with Iran. By threatening economic consequences for any country that negotiates with Tehran, the United States attempts to force a change in posture on the part of Iran's trading partners and allies.
This approach reflects a broader diplomatic strategy that targets not only the Iranian government, but the entire ecosystem of relations that sustains the country. Vasco Rato suggests that, without a coordinated change on the part of the countries in the region, any attempt to negotiate with Iran will struggle to succeed.
