"Despite the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday the kind of brazen act that has become a Trump trademark and the heavy bombing of Iran, the Islamic Republic's leaders have publicly rejected the prospect of any immediate return to the negotiating table."
"The Iranians' message is clear: that they have the ability to fight back, and believe that they must impose some kind of deterrence before any talks to stop the fighting, whenever that may be. And so, with an Iranian state prepared for a protracted fight, Trump is in the kind of scenario he has typically avoided in his two terms as president."
"Trump has said that the war could end in a few days, but has also given a timeline of up to five weeks, or even longer. He has framed the fight as one for the freedom of the Iranian people and in support of the country's opposition, but also made clear that he is happy to make a deal with elements of the current state if they are willing to abide by his conditions."
Trump's military campaign against Iran has failed to achieve its stated goal of quick resolution despite killing Supreme Leader Khamenei and conducting heavy bombing. Iran's leadership publicly refuses to return to negotiations, instead testing regional resolve through repeated attacks on US assets and civilian areas, with threats to Strait of Hormuz shipping. Iran signals willingness for protracted conflict and demands establishing deterrence before any talks. Trump's inconsistent messaging—claiming the war could end in days or extend five weeks—reflects his discomfort with prolonged conflict. His framing shifts between supporting Iranian opposition and willingness to negotiate with current state leadership, obscuring the reality that he lacks appetite for extended military engagement.
#iran-us-military-conflict #diplomatic-negotiations #trump-administration-policy #middle-east-escalation #deterrence-strategy
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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