Former Trump Intelligence Chief Richard Grenell Shortlisted for Iran Envoy Role
By The Media Line Staff
President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly considering Richard Grenell, his former director of national intelligence, for the role of special envoy for Iran. The report, published by Reuters on Wednesday, cites sources familiar with Trump’s transition plans.
Grenell is “definitely in the running” for the position, according to a source who spoke to Reuters. Trump praised Grenell on Truth Social late Wednesday, calling him “a star.” Grenell, however, dismissed the report as “wrong” in a post on X but did not provide further details.
The new administration’s stance on engaging with Iran remains unclear. Tensions between Washington and Tehran persist, with the US alleging that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targeted Trump for assassination—a claim Iran denies.
If selected, Grenell would be tasked with engaging regional and global stakeholders on critical issues, including Iran’s nuclear program.
Last month, the US, along with Britain, France, and Germany, successfully pushed a resolution at the International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors, censuring Iran for noncompliance with agency inspections. The resolution passed with a vote of 19 to 3.
Iran faces mounting regional challenges, including the collapse of its ally Bashar Assad’s regime in Syria and ongoing Israeli military campaigns targeting Tehran-backed militias in Gaza and Lebanon.
A longtime ally of Trump, Grenell served as acting director of national intelligence in 2020 and as US ambassador to Germany from 2018 to 2020. He holds the distinction of being the longest-serving US spokesperson to the United Nations.
Grenell’s tenure at the US Embassy in Berlin was marked by controversy due to his outspoken and combative style. Shortly after assuming the role of ambassador, he faced criticism for his outspoken and combative style, including his comments about wanting to “empower” conservative movements across Europe, which many saw as an inappropriate political intervention for a diplomat. German officials and media accused him of undermining diplomatic norms by appearing to push US political agendas aggressively, particularly regarding NATO spending, Iran sanctions, and trade disputes. Grenell’s blunt approach strained relations with Berlin, with some German politicians even calling for his removal.
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