BARRACK REJECTS EVIL REGIME LABEL FOR IRAN AMID U.S . SANCTIONS

What happened: U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack said at a Doha forum on Oct. 20 that Iran's government was "not an evil regime," while calling the IRGC an adversary and arguing for negotiations. Key numbers: Forum date Oct. 20. White House sanctions release Aug. 24 covering five sectors: digital assets, technology, gold, aviation, shipping. Why it matters: Barrack's remarks put negotiations forward alongside the administration's publicly stated economic and military pressure on Iran, a diplomatic contrast to Washington's sanctions campaign against Tehran.

U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack said at a Doha forum on Oct. 20 that Iran's government was "not an evil regime," while calling the IRGC an adversary and arguing for negotiations.

Barrack's remarks put negotiations forward alongside the administration's publicly stated economic and military pressure on Iran, a diplomatic contrast to Washington's sanctions campaign against Tehran.