I presented this note on January 10, at the height of the protests and internet shutdowns, titled "Trump, the Iranian Street, and the Policy of Transaction: To What Extent Does Democracy Matter?"

The Role of the Omani Government

• One-sided analysis leads to miscalculation.

• Street protests do not necessarily prevent dialogue and high-level deals; rather, they sometimes become a lever to accelerate them.

• Trump has repeatedly shown that he prioritizes his political, security, and economic interests over any other principle of democracy and human rights.

• If a deal is deemed "beneficial," verbal support for protests or democratic values can easily be ignored.

• And Iran is experiencing its most turbulent historical days in the last half-century while its fate is being negotiated. I invite you to read it once more with care, as events have now become clearer.