Iran has long mastered the art of protracted negotiations. Past experience shows that Tehran possesses strategic patience and a remarkable ability to buy time.

Before the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was finalized, negotiations stretched for nearly two years. Later, after returning to the White House in 2021, President Joe Biden spent months attempting to revive the same deal, only for talks to ultimately stall.

Today, President Donald Trump faces a two-week window to reach an agreement that could bring an end to the war. It is a short deadline when dealing with a system that excels at managing negotiations — a point Trump himself has acknowledged.

Analysts have already expressed skepticism about the possibility of concluding a deal in Islamabad within such a timeframe, given the wide gap between Washington’s 15-point proposal and Tehran’s counter 10-point plan.

But the more important question is not whether a deal can be reached — it is........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)