Cliff May said a proposed peace deal with Iran must be approached with a strategy of distrust and verification rather than trust.
The stance highlights the deep skepticism regarding Iran's commitment to long-term diplomatic agreements and the risks of financial concessions without strict oversight.
May, the founder and president of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, discussed the memorandum of understanding during an appearance on the "Jesse Watters Primetime" program on Fox News [1]. He said any deal between the U.S. and Iran must be robust and verifiable to be effective [1].
During the interview, May addressed the financial motivations of the Iranian government. He said, "Iran wants money but they ain’t material girls" [1]. This phrasing suggests that while the regime seeks economic relief, its primary goals may extend beyond simple material wealth to broader geopolitical influence.
May rejected the traditional diplomatic phrase "trust but verify" when applying it to the current Iranian context. He said the correct approach is "not trust but verify, it's distrust and verify" [2].
This approach focuses on the necessity of rigorous monitoring and the assumption that the other party may attempt to circumvent the terms of the agreement [2]. May's commentary underscores a broader debate over how the U.S. should manage diplomatic overtures from the Iranian regime without compromising national security objectives [1].
“"Not trust but verify, it's distrust and verify."”
The emphasis on a 'distrust and verify' model indicates a shift away from optimistic diplomacy toward a security-first framework. By framing Iran's motivations as something more complex than mere financial gain, May suggests that economic incentives alone are insufficient to guarantee compliance with a peace agreement.
