Iran has refused to accept America’s conditions for ending the war. Sources close to President Donald Trump told Axios that Tehran does not see itself as a defeated power. This belief has become the main barrier to any negotiated settlement. The situation reveals a basic disconnect at the heart of the stalled diplomacy. Washington views the military campaign as a serious blow against the Iranian regime, while Tehran seems to reach a very different conclusion from the battlefield.
Trump recently posted on Truth Social that Iran “is totally defeated and wants a deal, but not a deal that I would accept.” Analysts point out that the Iranian regime just needs to survive to claim victory. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt warned that if Iran “fails to accept the reality and fails to understand that they have been defeated, President Trump will ensure they will be hit harder than they have ever been hit before,” adding that “the President doesn’t bluff and is ready to unleash hell.” Iran’s stance has also become more rigid. Iranian officials told mediators from Pakistan, Egypt, and Turkey that US military actions and Trump’s decision to boost troop numbers have heightened their suspicion that his call for peace talks is just a trick.
Iran has indicated, through Egypt and Qatar, that it is open to negotiations, but on very tough terms. These include a full ceasefire, binding guarantees that the war will not restart, and financial compensation. Some in Trump’s inner circle feel what one official described as “buyer’s remorse.” They worry that attacking Iran was a mistake and that Trump “grossly overestimated his ability to topple the regime without sending in ground troops.” With both sides unwilling to back down, the chance for diplomacy seems narrower than ever.
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