--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We can pursue peaceful diplomacy with the…" description: "\"We can pursue peaceful diplomacy with the Iranian regime while also continuing our maximum economic pressure campaign, while also defending ourselves....." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3d/morgan-ortagus-11473_diplomacy_we-can-pursue-peaceful-diplomacy-with-th_1969897.jpg" --- # We can pursue peaceful diplomacy with the Iranian regime… ![“We can pursue peaceful diplomacy with the Iranian regime while also continuing our maximum economic pressure campaign, while also defending ourselves... To say that it's a war with Iran or nothing is just a fundamental misunderstanding of how foreign policy actually works.” quote by Morgan Ortagus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3d/morgan-ortagus-11473_diplomacy_we-can-pursue-peaceful-diplomacy-with-th_1969897.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3d/morgan-ortagus-11473_diplomacy_we-can-pursue-peaceful-diplomacy-with-th_1969897.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3d/morgan-ortagus-11473_diplomacy_we-can-pursue-peaceful-diplomacy-with-th_1969897.jpg) > “We can pursue peaceful diplomacy with the Iranian regime while also continuing our maximum economic pressure campaign, while also defending ourselves... To say that it's a war with Iran or nothing is just a fundamental misunderstanding of how foreign policy actually works.” [Morgan Ortagus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-ortagus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Balancing diplomatic engagement with economic sanctions is essential; misunderstanding this leads to oversimplified war narratives. **In simple terms:** Combine diplomacy and pressure, not just war. Key Takeaway Use both tools wisely. Themes foreign policy diplomacy sanctions strategic communication Mood cautious analytical strategic Type policy political When to use this quote - Negotiations with hostile states - economic pressure campaigns - defense planning - public statements Key Concepts realism deterrence conflict management Questions to Reflect On - How can we measure the effectiveness of sanctions versus diplomacy? - What risks arise when messaging is ambiguous? A Different Perspective Overreliance on either tool can undermine credibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Diplomacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diplomacy/) [Iran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iran/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nothing/) [Pressure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pressure/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad claims there are no homosexuals in Iran, just like there are no gay conservatives in the US.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/iranian-president-mahmoud-ahmadinejad-claims-there-are-no-homosexuals/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [Allowing an independent and sovereign Iraq could be a nightmare for the United States. It would mean that it would be Shi'ite-dominated, at least…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/allowing-an-independent-and-sovereign-iraq-could-be-a-nightmare-for/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Why is Netanyahu pushing war? Among several reasons, demonizing Iran reduces pressure on Israel to negotiate seriously with the Palestinians. Many Israelis prefer building…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-richman/why-is-netanyahu-pushing-war-among-several-reasons-demonizing-iran/) [Sheldon Richman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-richman/) > [During my years in the Navy and in the White House, I was involved in assessing how a war with Iran would go. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-sestak/during-my-years-in-the-navy-and-in-the-white-house-i-was-involved-in/) [Joe Sestak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-sestak/) > [They are longing for a war with Iran. Iran is no more a harm to us than was Iraq or Afghanistan. They invented an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/they-are-longing-for-a-war-with-iran-iran-is-no-more-a-harm-to-us/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [I think it is essential that America does not stumble into a stupid war with Iran.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/i-think-it-is-essential-that-america-does-not-stumble-into-a-stupid/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [Launching a ground war against Iran would require hundreds of thousands of troops for a 'regime change followed by nation-building' operation, as we attempted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-sestak/launching-a-ground-war-against-iran-would-require-hundreds-of/) [Joe Sestak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-sestak/) > [Iraq may have been a preview of that, but it's still redeemable if we get out fast. In a war with Iran, we'll get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/iraq-may-have-been-a-preview-of-that-but-it-s-still-redeemable-if-we/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [By threatening war against Iran, Iraq and North Korea in his now-famous "Axis of Evil" address, the president painted himself into a corner. Either…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/by-threatening-war-against-iran-iraq-and-north-korea-in-his-now/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [Going to war against Iran - whether one calls such a move 'surgical' or 'total' - would be an extremely serious undertaking; with worldwide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-barr/going-to-war-against-iran-whether-one-calls-such-a-move-surgical-or/) [Bob Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-barr/) > [Afghanistan was not the 'Good War' - it's just that it wasn't quite as bad as Iraq. War with Iran would be worse than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-auchincloss/afghanistan-was-not-the-good-war-it-s-just-that-it-wasn-t-quite-as/) [Jake Auchincloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-auchincloss/) > [I do not believe we will have a war with Iran.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kennedy/i-do-not-believe-we-will-have-a-war-with-iran/) [John Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kennedy/) > [America should know that peace with Iran is the mother of all peace, and war with Iran is the mother of all wars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hassan-rouhani/america-should-know-that-peace-with-iran-is-the-mother-of-all-peace/) [Hassan Rouhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hassan-rouhani/) > [It was at a certain stage (you might have forgotten, haven't you?) that the United States actively collaborated with Saddam when he was at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/it-was-at-a-certain-stage-you-might-have-forgotten-haven-t-you-that/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [It was not the United States who invaded Kuwait; it was Iraq. It was not the United States that went to war with Iran;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/it-was-not-the-united-states-who-invaded-kuwait-it-was-iraq-it-was/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) ## More by Morgan Ortagus > [The United States welcomes China's commitment to engage in arms control negotiations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-ortagus/the-united-states-welcomes-china-s-commitment-to-engage-in-arms/) [Morgan Ortagus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-ortagus/) > [President Trump insists on fairness and reciprocity in U.S.-China relations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-ortagus/president-trump-insists-on-fairness-and-reciprocity-in-u-s-china/) [Morgan Ortagus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-ortagus/) > [What would be most productive is for Chairman Kim and his staff and for President Trump and all his staff to continue upon the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-ortagus/what-would-be-most-productive-is-for-chairman-kim-and-his-staff-and/) [Morgan Ortagus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-ortagus/) > [Quite frankly, I don't want someone with the temperament of a middle school pubescent boy in the president's office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-ortagus/quite-frankly-i-don-t-want-someone-with-the-temperament-of-a-middle/) [Morgan Ortagus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-ortagus/) > [The United States is deeply concerned by Turkey's announced intentions to begin offshore drilling operations in an area claimed by the Republic of Cyprus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-ortagus/the-united-states-is-deeply-concerned-by-turkey-s-announced/) [Morgan Ortagus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-ortagus/) > [Saudi Arabia is the bulwark of our relationship, especially when it comes to Iran, and without the partnership of Saudi Arabia and our other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-ortagus/saudi-arabia-is-the-bulwark-of-our-relationship-especially-when-it/) [Morgan Ortagus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-ortagus/) > [Iran must stop all proliferation-sensitive activities, including uranium enrichment, and we will not accept actions that support the continuation of such enrichment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-ortagus/iran-must-stop-all-proliferation-sensitive-activities-including/) [Morgan Ortagus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-ortagus/) > [The United States, whenever it comes to any region in the world where there are tensions, asks for people to observe the rule of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-ortagus/the-united-states-whenever-it-comes-to-any-region-in-the-world-where/) [Morgan Ortagus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-ortagus/) > [There are areas in which the Russians are actually surprisingly cooperative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-ortagus/there-are-areas-in-which-the-russians-are-actually-surprisingly/) [Morgan Ortagus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-ortagus/) > [The stealing of American research, of course, ultimately takes American jobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-ortagus/the-stealing-of-american-research-of-course-ultimately-takes-american/) [Morgan Ortagus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-ortagus/) > [We call on the P.R.C. to remain focused on supporting international efforts to combat the global pandemic and to stop exploiting the distraction or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-ortagus/we-call-on-the-p-r-c-to-remain-focused-on-supporting-international/) [Morgan Ortagus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-ortagus/) > [We have directed the closure of P.R.C. Consulate General Houston, in order to protect American intellectual property and American's private information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-ortagus/we-have-directed-the-closure-of-p-r-c-consulate-general-houston-in/) [Morgan Ortagus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-ortagus/) > [I don't think that leaking an American diplomat's private information, pictures, names of their children, I don't think that is a formal protest, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-ortagus/i-don-t-think-that-leaking-an-american-diplomat-s-private-information/) [Morgan Ortagus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-ortagus/) > [If 2016 taught us anything, it's that President Trump's political prowess should not be discounted or underestimated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-ortagus/if-2016-taught-us-anything-it-s-that-president-trump-s-political/) [Morgan Ortagus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-ortagus/) > [Given my own experience in national security, I have seen while serving abroad just how important women's economic empowerment is to national security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-ortagus/given-my-own-experience-in-national-security-i-have-seen-while/) [Morgan Ortagus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-ortagus/) [Explore all 59 Morgan Ortagus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-ortagus/) ## More Diplomacy quotes > [“There is no time for patience - there is no time for diplomacy - there is no time for policies, legislations and meaningless paperwork.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/there-is-no-time-for-patience-there-is-no-time-for-diplomacy-there-is/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [For diplomacy to be effective, words must be credible - and no one can now doubt the word of America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/for-diplomacy-to-be-effective-words-must-be-credible-and-no-one-can/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [In archaeology you uncover the unknown. In diplomacy you cover the known.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-archaeology-you-uncover-the-unknown-in-diplomacy-you-cover-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ \[Putin\] is a bully. And bullies only understand when we punch them in the nose, but we need to do that economically. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-ayotte/putin-is-a-bully-and-bullies-only-understand-when-we-punch-them-in/) [Kelly Ayotte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-ayotte/) > [Believe it or not, entertainment is part of our American diplomacy, it is part of what makes us exceptional, part of what makes us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/believe-it-or-not-entertainment-is-part-of-our-american-diplomacy-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The most successful cultural diplomacy strategy integrates people-to-people or arts/culture/media-to-people interactions into the basic business of diplomacy. The programs in Afghanistan, Egypt, and Iran…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-p-schneider/the-most-successful-cultural-diplomacy-strategy-integrates-people-to/) [Cynthia P. Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-p-schneider/) > [War is always a failure. It means we've failed in diplomacy and we've failed in talking to one another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-firrell/war-is-always-a-failure-it-means-we-ve-failed-in-diplomacy-and-we-ve/) [Martin Firrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-firrell/) > [There comes a point where you see no evidence that the carrot and diplomacy are working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/there-comes-a-point-where-you-see-no-evidence-that-the-carrot-and/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Russia may very well be front and center again in 2020 as they were in 2016 regarding interference in America's presidential election. But the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/russia-may-very-well-be-front-and-center-again-in-2020-as-they-were/) [Richard Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/) > [Iran has little capacity to deploy force. Its strategic doctrines are defensive, designed to deter invasion long enough for diplomacy to set it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/iran-has-little-capacity-to-deploy-force-its-strategic-doctrines-are/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [“Expecting accountability from the UN system was akin to expecting a blind dog to catch a flying Frisbee.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-soussan/expecting-accountability-from-the-un-system-was-akin-to-expecting-a/) Michael Soussan > [Kolkata is a musical city. What I like about people here is the lack of diplomacy. Some of the best Indian classical musicians belong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sukhwinder-singh/kolkata-is-a-musical-city-what-i-like-about-people-here-is-the-lack/) [Sukhwinder Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sukhwinder-singh/) > [Obama is hardly the first president to seek rapprochement with our adversaries and reconciliation with our enemies, of course. But his determination to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-f-hayes/obama-is-hardly-the-first-president-to-seek-rapprochement-with-our/) [Stephen F. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-f-hayes/) > [Sanctions alone could not stop Iran's nuclear program. But they did help bring Iran to the negotiating table.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/sanctions-alone-could-not-stop-iran-s-nuclear-program-but-they-did/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Be polite; write diplomatically; even in a declaration of war one observes the rules of politeness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-von-bismarck/be-polite-write-diplomatically-even-in-a-declaration-of-war-one/) [Otto von Bismarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-von-bismarck/) [Browse all 634 Diplomacy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diplomacy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We can pursue peaceful diplomacy with the Iranian regime while also continuing our maximum economic pressure campaign, while also defending ourselves... 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