A Frustrated President Can't Get the Deal Done

Trump stayed in Washington over the holiday weekend and delayed a Cabinet meeting at Camp David after weather forced it back to the White House. He had anticipated a deal with Iran that he described as largely negotiated, while his secretary of state suggested it could arrive on multiple days. The meeting began with top officials present, but Trump said he had nothing to unveil. The proposed agreement, reportedly a one-page memorandum of understanding, would set a 60-day timeline to address Iran’s nuclear ambitions and enriched uranium. Trump expressed frustration that Iran had not reached a deal, while Iran continued to call his bluff on threats and deadlines. Trump has extended cease-fires rather than resume hostilities.

"President Trump skipped his eldest son's wedding and held staff back in Washington over the holiday weekend, expecting that a deal with Iran that he said on Saturday was "largely negotiated" would soon be ready. His secretary of state, Marco Rubio, who was on a four-day trip to India, said on Sunday that a deal could come that day. Then he said the same thing on Monday. Yesterday, Rubio suggested the deal could take a "few more days.""

"Trump scheduled a Cabinet meeting at Camp David, the site of previous landmark Middle Eastern peace accords, for today, heightening the sense of anticipation. But inclement weather forced the meeting back to the White House, and within the first 10 minutes, with the administration's top officials and their red baseball caps arrayed around him, Trump conceded he had nothing to unveil. "They want very much to make a deal," Trump said of the Iranians. "So far, they haven't gotten there.""

"The agreement under discussion-reportedly a one-page "memorandum of understanding"-would put negotiators on a 60-day clock to find a way to address Iran's nuclear ambitions and its enriched uranium, or "nuclear dust," as Trump calls it. Trump has grown deeply frustrated with his inability to get Iran to fully capitulate, aides told us, and angry at the commentators who have said the persistent stalemate has left him looking weak."

"Trump's failure to make a deal doesn't stem from a lack of desire. He has spent weeks casting about for a way out of the conflict. He has tried to force Iran's surrender with a series of escalating threats and deadlines. But each time, Iran has called his bluff, and Trump has found ways to extend the cease-fire, which was put in place before Vice President Vance visited Islamabad in mid-April in hopes of securing a broader deal but returned empty-handed. Despite his frequent threats, Trump is reluctant to resume hostilities; aides told"

Read at The Atlantic