“Facts are stubborn things. Let us dare to read, think, speak and write.”John Adams

The US leaders seemingly have overcome their war fatigue and are willing to have a renewed showdown with the Iranians. They have apparently changed their game plan to deal with the tough and incredulous Iranian negotiators. In contrast with Iran’s narrow and strictly legalistic approach to the MoU, the US seeks a liberal and broader view of its clauses and hopes for a miraculous moment of mutual trust and convergence on thorny issues, resulting in a deal of the choice of the mercurial Donald Trump, who is always angered by the slightest deviation from the path he has set in his delusional mind for the Iranians to follow.

The arrogance of power has got the better of him. He behaves like an irascible drillmaster holding a stick in one hand and a pack of biscuits in the other. He has displayed no patience for long-winded negotiations. Such technical talks are normally conducted by professional diplomats. Iran has wisely engaged seasoned diplomats in the talks, from its Foreign Minister down to senior officials from its Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Speaker Muhammad Bagher Ghalibaf was, in my view, involved to match the presence of Vice President JD Vance as leader of the US delegation.

While Iranian Foreign Minister Muhammad Abbas Araghchi was playing a leading role, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was off the radar except for his recent visit to the Gulf region. This speaks volumes about his role in the talks. The foreign policy of the US is apparently being run by Jared........

© The Nation