"The communication channels between us and the Americans are still open," stated Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi this week, aiming to contradict rumors of growing hostility between Washington and Tehran since Donald Trump’s election on Nov. 5. Trump, who once portrayed the Islamic Republic as the "main state sponsor of terrorism," seems to have shifted his tone slightly toward a more conciliatory message toward the end of his campaign. Two weeks before his victory, he stated in a podcast interview that he wished to "see Iran prosper" and would not seek conflict or attempt to end the Iranian regime, adding that the only issue is "they cannot have nuclear weapons." In the context of a regional confrontation that could lead to open war between Iran and Israel, would the new U.S. president turn to diplomacy to achieve his goal of...