Iran understands it is dealing with an erratic U.S. president, but its negotiators still believe they can thread the needle with Trump.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/43614333

Jeremy Scahill and Murtaza Hussain
Feb 23, 2026

The U.S. and Iran are headed to a new round of talks in Geneva aimed at averting a conflict this week—as the U.S. continues to surge military forces to the region in its largest military buildup since the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Although talks are scheduled for Thursday, the prospects for a deal that would halt the U.S. drive to war remain fragile. The U.S. has demanded sweeping concessions, including the cessation of all nuclear enrichment on Iranian soil, the end of Iranian support for regional armed resistance movements, and strict limits on the Iranian ballistic missile program—the only meaningful deterrent that Iran was able to employ during its conflict with Israel last year.

In a post on Truth Social on Monday, President Donald Trump wrote, “I am the one that makes the decision, I would rather have a Deal than not but, if we don’t make a Deal, it will be a very bad day for that Country and, very sadly, its people, because they are great and wonderful, and something like this should never have happened to them.”

  • amemorablename@lemmygrad.ml
    23·
    12 days ago

    The U.S. has demanded sweeping concessions, including the cessation of all nuclear enrichment on Iranian soil, the end of Iranian support for regional armed resistance movements, and strict limits on the Iranian ballistic missile program—the only meaningful deterrent that Iran was able to employ during its conflict with Israel last year.

    So basically demanding that Iran agree to not defend itself, which means Iran should accelerate arming up as fast as possible.

    If you can’t defend yourself, the empire will take over without a fight.

    If you can defend yourself, the empire will demand you stop defending yourself so it can take over without a fight.

    If you disarm, the empire will take over without a fight.

    If you refuse to disarm, the empire may attack you anyway, but at least you have a fighting chance.

    It leaves only one path for sovereignty, which is to arm as efficiently as possible, while trying to delay attacks on you until you’re ready.

    • Jarmund@lemmygrad.mlEnglish
      15·
      11 days ago

      I agree; the soviet union did exactly the same when confronted with outright war/imperialist aggression. Buying as much time as possible becomes necessary when you are not fully prepared for an all-out-or-nothing conflict

  • Commiejones@lemmygrad.ml
    10·
    11 days ago

    “We are giving usa so many options to choose from. They can fuck off, kts, eat shit, or catch our missiles in their teeth.”

  • Bronstein_Tardigrade@lemmygrad.ml
    1·
    9 days ago

    Iran sees serious negotiations as a means to protect their future, while the US team of chuckle-heads are playing to not get voted off the island.