THE failure of the first round of US-Iran nuclear talks in Oman (Feb 6), spurred global concerns regarding the Trump Administration’s obsession with attacking Iran and the harrowing consequences of such a military (mis-)adventure.

Though the second round of talks started in Geneva (Feb 17), the situation is yet complex, with both sides having deep-seated concerns and mistrust. In case of talks’ failure, the US is prepared to attack Iran while Tehran has warned that it will strike US bases in the region. Giving diplomacy a fair chance to win over brinkmanship, dialogue and deterrence are crucial tools in this complex geopolitical landscape.

For decades, Iran remains a pivotal focus of US foreign policy primarily because it acts as the most consistent and active challenger to the US-Israel’s regional influence and security architecture in the Middle East. Despite significant US-Israeli strikes on its nuclear facilities in June 2025, Iran still continues to maintain its nuclear infrastructure and as per the western reports, it can shortly enrich enough uranium required for a nuclear device. From the US perspective, Iran matters significantly to US foreign policy because it is the only regional power consistently challenging American influence in the Middle East. Tehran’s defiance of US-led norms, support for proxy groups like Hezbollah and Hamas and pursuit of nuclear capabilities undermine US strategic goals. Iran’s resistance to ‘US-Zionist domination’ strengthens its role as a counterbalance, challenging Washington’s efforts to shape regional order. Tehran is highly critical of US’ unconditional political and military support of Israel.

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