Iran is deliberately prolonging negotiations with the United States in an attempt to politically weaken President Donald Trump ahead of the midterm elections in November, while simultaneously preparing in Tehran for renewed attacks from Israel and the U.S. and harboring deep distrust of Washington, according to a Reuters report.
3+Three senior Iranian officials and another source involved in Tehran’s decision-making, who spoke to Reuters anonymously, claimed that Iran’s leadership is convinced Trump is ready to resume military strikes in an attempt to break the stalemate in the war that has now lasted eight months.
“Iran is preparing for renewed attacks from Israel and the United States, not for a deal with America that would end the war,” one of the senior officials said. According to him, Iran’s leadership is determined not to allow the American president to score a political achievement ahead of the elections.
Pressure on Trump and the Iranian Card
The report claims that the war, which began in February with American and Israeli strikes on Iran, has damaged Trump’s political standing. According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll, the president’s approval rating has plunged to a low of 31%, with high fuel prices alarming American voters and threatening to hurt the Republican Party in the November 3 congressional elections.
3+Meanwhile, the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical trade routes for energy transport, remains effectively closed following Iranian actions. Iranian threats and attacks have significantly reduced shipping traffic through the strait, while the American naval blockade and economic sanctions have slashed Tehran’s oil export revenues and deepened the country’s economic crisis.
Despite the heavy economic price, the Iranian sources made clear that Tehran is unwilling to make concessions that could help Trump politically. According to them, the chances of a breakthrough in negotiations before the U.S. elections remain extremely low.
Iranian Demands and Fear of Another Strike
According to the report, the United States is demanding that Iran’s nuclear program be included in negotiations from the outset, partly due to pressure from Israel. Tehran, on the other hand, insists that the conditions it presented in a seven-day plan be accepted before any discussions on the nuclear issue begin.
3+The Iranian proposal, conveyed through Qatari mediators, includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz within seven days, while maintaining Iranian control over it. In return, Tehran demands the lifting of the American naval blockade, easing of restrictions on oil exports, release of frozen Iranian assets, and cessation of hostilities on all fronts.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Sunday that the proposal still remains on the table and that messages continue to pass between the sides through mediators.
3+One of the senior Iranian officials explained that the distrust of Washington also stems from previous attacks on Iran, which he said cut off attempts at negotiation.