Brett McGurk is a CNN global affairs analyst who served in senior national security positions under Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump and Joe Biden.
Years ago, I was negotiating with Iranian officials for the release of American hostages held in Tehran. The talks were not going well.
At one point, my Iranian counterpart asked why Iran should ever make a deal with a country that constantly changes its government — in other words, a democracy?
I responded with a question of my own. For how long can a country that takes hostages and represses its own people with violence expect to remain in power? History shows such systems collapse, and Iran will surely prove no different.
His answer was chilling. The regime enjoyed support from a critical mass of the population and — more importantly, in his view — it had the guns and readiness to use them.
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