The world must return to a policy of "maximum pressure" against Iran to turn it into a more democratic country, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's incoming Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg told an Iranian opposition event in Paris on Saturday.
Trump has vowed to return to the policy he pursued in his previous term that sought to wreck Iran's economy to force the country to negotiate a deal on its nuclear program, ballistic missile program and regional activities.
"These pressures are not just kinetic, just not military force, but they must be economic and diplomatic as well", Retired Lieutenant-General Kellogg, who is set to serve as Trump's special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, told the audience at Paris-based Iranian opposition group National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI).
He said there was an opportunity "to change Iran for the better" but that this opportunity would not last forever.
"We must exploit the weakness we now see. The hope is there, so must too be the action."
He has previously spoken at NCRI events, most recently in November, but his presence in Paris, even if in a personal capacity, suggests the group has the ear of the new U.S. administration.
Kellogg postponed a trip to European capitals earlier this month until after Trump's inauguration on Jan. 20.
It was unclear whether he would use his trip top Paris to meet French officials to discuss Ukraine. The French presidency, foreign ministry, Trump's transition team did not immediately respond for comment.
Incoming U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also spoken at NCRI events in the past. The group has repeatedly called for the fall of the existing Iranian authorities, although it is unclear how much support it has within Iran.
Speaking at the start of the event at Auvers-sur-Oise, the group's headquarters on the outskirts of Paris, NCRI President-elect Maryam Rajavi said the regional balance of power had shifted against Iran's leadership with the all of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad and the "crushing blow" suffered by its most important ally Hezbollah is its war with Israel.
"It is time for Western governments to abandon past policies and stand with the Iranian people this time," she said.
The NCRI, the political arm of the People's Mujahideen Organization of Iran (PMOI), has held frequent rallies in the France, often attended by high profile former U.S., European and Arab officials critical of the Islamic Republic.
© Thomson Reuters 2025.
15 Comments
TaiwanIsNotChina
Shouldn't he be more focused on obtaining a just peace in Ukraine?
lincolnman
"Maximum pressure" - sure sounds like war to me....
"Protect the unborn" - flipped...
"Decrease immigration" - flipped...
Now "No new wars" - flipped...
Trump abandoning his campaign promises and MAGA core interests faster than he abandons his wives...
bass4funk
That’s coming, now worries
wallace
Trump said he will end the war on Jan 21.
bass4funk
If people take each word in the literally sense then there’s just no logical hope for them. It will come to an end once he’s in office that’s the main and focused goal, since Zelenskyy won’t be getting anymore money like before, and he’s running out of choices, he only has the choice of making peace sooner or later and in his case, sooner.
Ah_so
Obviously we know now not to take Trump at his word.
wallace
So we should never believe Trump. Got it.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Real geniuses don't procrastinate and make things worse.
Trump has yet to sell a Ukraine surrender as America winning, but you could be right that Trump is just slow walking it because he knows he has nothing good to offer the US.
lincolnman
Indeed...
When Trump said he believed that life began at conception and that he would never surrender and always protect the unborn....MAGA-world shouldn't have taken him at his word....
Then when Trump said he would stop immigration and the "polluting" and "replacing" of white culture by immigrants.....they shouldn't have taken him at his word then either...
And "No new wars"? Just wait...he'll betray them on that too...
You'd have thought the MAGA light bulb would have gone on seven years ago when he tanked on his promise to build the wall and have Mexico pay for it...
"No logical hope" - a perfect encapsulation of our MAGA-friends...
bass4funk
Biden?
I really don’t care what it’s called, I’m just happy we won’t be seeing billions in US tax dollars going to Zelenskyy.
Slow is good if it means my money can stay in the U.S. take all the time you need Mr. President.
TaiwanIsNotChina
At what point did you realize that you stopped fighting Putin but he didn't stop fighting you?
lincolnman
Wrong. You've said numerous times you believe the "Great Replacement Theory" - that ALL immigrants are "poisoning" America, not just illegals...or have you flipped like Trump too?
He's going to war with Iran - and into business with the Chinese communists... Promises made, promises broken...
His siding with Musk over Bannon and Loomer was a real betrayal to you and the other MAGA America-firsters...
Calm down...
When? From 2017-2019 when Repub Paul Ryan was Speaker and Repub McConnel was Majority Leader? And who was the Repub President?
As are broken promises, flipped positions, and hypocrisy in MAGA-world...
>
bass4funk
No, very right.
No, ILLEGALS are and Blacks and American Hispanics feel the same way, largely the reason why they voted for Trump.
We have troops mobilized?
Then no need for fossil fuels and tariff threats
Not according to his 280 plus Accomplishments
Let them hash it out, both have good and minus points.
Always, that’s my typical demeanor
https://www.politico.com/story/2019/01/31/nancy-pelosi-border-wall-1139308
Nothing of the sort, but when Dems controlled the House, some setbacks, not now and nice try.
WoodyLee
Few FACTS we know for sure,
Iran caused the death of over 45,000 Palestinians and the destruction of their homeland, supported and participated in the oppression and killings of the Syrian people under the dictator Assad regime, caused and participated in Lebanon civil wars casing the death of thousands of Lebanese, Armed and supported the Houthi forces in the ongoing Yamane civil war causing thousands of deaths.
Nothing positive can be said about the current Iranian leadership anymore.
stormcrow
Did Iran invade Ukraine?
What about maximum pressure on Russia?