It's interesting to understand that Israel and the U.S. have different goals and different statements and different behavior, and that Tehran knows that and acts accordingly. Because in Trump's mind, he's always the one in charge.
Does the author believe that our weak narcissist of a president was played by Netanyahu, and possibly Putin, in engaging in a war no other American president would start? And what of the unprovoked nature of our strikes? Surely Bibi adored not having to be the bad guy--Trump gets full blame but will never accept blame, so he is the ideal fall guy.
Iran seems to be struggling with the fact that negotiating with Trump is like looking into a mirror. Neither side will (or has) negotiated in good faith. Neither side trusts the durability of any negotiated solution. Both sides use strategic ambiguity and diversion while keeping their true intentions concealed. This negotiation will be like walking through a carnival fun house, but with live fire and missiles raining down on the carnival visitors.
Where is the evidence that Iran not negotiate in good faith? The Omani mediator reported they were making remarkable concessions and thought they were close to a resolution of sorts. Hours later, they were bombed. But look at who they were negotiating with - people who had direct financial interests in war, not to mention the Trump family such as Eric investing $750 million in an Israeli drone company 12 days before the bombs were dropped.
Anyone who makes an agreement/treaty/contract et cetera with Trump is a fool. He will break any agreement when it suits him.
This article is insightful and complex. Can you imagine anyone trying to explain anything like this to Trump? Imagine someone trying to dumb this down for Trump. It won’t happen, no matter how much McDonald’s you give him.
Someone else in the regime will have to make the decisions.
I don't see why Iran would negotiate at all, considering they've been twice burnt. And I don't believe for a minute the crap that Trump is saying such as that they have "given" him ships through the Strait of Hormuz. People who track and report on each ship have not confirmed that. This site, for instance, is run by an avowed Trump supporter and I'm sure he'd love to report that they're moving through, but he hasn't.https://gcaptain.com/
Seriously, how do you negotiate with such an inveterate liar?
And meanwhile, Putin is making billions selling his no-longer-sanctioned oil, and Trump doesn't do anything Putin doesn't want, so I'd say negotiations are currently futile.
I would also argue that Trump directly trolled and insulted the Iranians by sending two unqualified real estate speculators to negotiate. They were rejected, as they should be. That doesn't stop the bad-faith tactics at the next level, though, but at least everybody knows it.
Agree. And as I understand it, both individuals have financial interests in the Gulf. Well, we know Kushner does as he invests Saudi money to the tune of $25 million take home pay per year.
The Omani mediator said Iran was making concessions and appeared close to a resolution. Kushner and Witikoff said some kind of BS like they "didn't mean it".
Follow the money. (I read - per Denver Rigglesman - that Eric invested millions in an Israeli drone company just days before the bombs dropped on Iran. Ka-ching!)
It's interesting to understand that Israel and the U.S. have different goals and different statements and different behavior, and that Tehran knows that and acts accordingly. Because in Trump's mind, he's always the one in charge.
Does the author believe that our weak narcissist of a president was played by Netanyahu, and possibly Putin, in engaging in a war no other American president would start? And what of the unprovoked nature of our strikes? Surely Bibi adored not having to be the bad guy--Trump gets full blame but will never accept blame, so he is the ideal fall guy.
Iran seems to be struggling with the fact that negotiating with Trump is like looking into a mirror. Neither side will (or has) negotiated in good faith. Neither side trusts the durability of any negotiated solution. Both sides use strategic ambiguity and diversion while keeping their true intentions concealed. This negotiation will be like walking through a carnival fun house, but with live fire and missiles raining down on the carnival visitors.
Where is the evidence that Iran not negotiate in good faith? The Omani mediator reported they were making remarkable concessions and thought they were close to a resolution of sorts. Hours later, they were bombed. But look at who they were negotiating with - people who had direct financial interests in war, not to mention the Trump family such as Eric investing $750 million in an Israeli drone company 12 days before the bombs were dropped.
Anyone who makes an agreement/treaty/contract et cetera with Trump is a fool. He will break any agreement when it suits him.
This article is insightful and complex. Can you imagine anyone trying to explain anything like this to Trump? Imagine someone trying to dumb this down for Trump. It won’t happen, no matter how much McDonald’s you give him.
Someone else in the regime will have to make the decisions.
No better way to say it.
I don't see why Iran would negotiate at all, considering they've been twice burnt. And I don't believe for a minute the crap that Trump is saying such as that they have "given" him ships through the Strait of Hormuz. People who track and report on each ship have not confirmed that. This site, for instance, is run by an avowed Trump supporter and I'm sure he'd love to report that they're moving through, but he hasn't.https://gcaptain.com/
Seriously, how do you negotiate with such an inveterate liar?
And meanwhile, Putin is making billions selling his no-longer-sanctioned oil, and Trump doesn't do anything Putin doesn't want, so I'd say negotiations are currently futile.
I would also argue that Trump directly trolled and insulted the Iranians by sending two unqualified real estate speculators to negotiate. They were rejected, as they should be. That doesn't stop the bad-faith tactics at the next level, though, but at least everybody knows it.
Agree. And as I understand it, both individuals have financial interests in the Gulf. Well, we know Kushner does as he invests Saudi money to the tune of $25 million take home pay per year.
The Omani mediator said Iran was making concessions and appeared close to a resolution. Kushner and Witikoff said some kind of BS like they "didn't mean it".
Follow the money. (I read - per Denver Rigglesman - that Eric invested millions in an Israeli drone company just days before the bombs dropped on Iran. Ka-ching!)
These chiselers make me sick.
Thank you for such a clear interpretation and differences in how we might see negotiations as compared to Iran.