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Iran is pursuing an extended negotiating strategy aimed at keeping the United States entangled in conflict through the midterm elections, according to officials in Tehran. The approach mirrors efforts to damage President Jimmy Carter’s political standing during the 1979-81 embassy hostage crisis. Iranian leaders view inflicting consequences on Trump as a significant military objective, with widespread calls for retaliation evident at recent state funerals.
Tehran’s grievances extend beyond standard diplomatic disputes. The Trump administration withdrew from a nuclear agreement in 2018, authorized the assassination of military commander Qassem Suleimani, and has shown no remorse regarding the death of the supreme leader or an attempted attack on the Iranian president. These actions have intensified personal animosity toward Trump throughout Iranian society and government.
A deputy foreign minister announced this week that nuclear negotiations would require two to four months to progress, delaying substantive discussions well beyond the November midterms. The revised timeline requires the United States to lift sanctions, end port blockades, and unfreeze assets before talks advance. Iranian analysts have noted that prolonged conflict without nuclear concessions could damage Trump’s political standing through continued military expenses and high oil prices, while any withdrawal might alienate his domestic supporters.
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Originally reported by Theguardian →
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