The Perpetual 'Long Diplomatic Process'
When Bloomberg reports that Iran signals talks 'won't lead to quick resolution,' a pattern emerges that transcends the immediate headline. This language serves to manage expectations, but also to provide cover for a protracted state of affairs that benefits certain actors. FIRST INSTANCE: The Hostage Crisis and Subsequent Negotiations (1979-1981) Following the 1979 Iranian Revolution and the
hostage crisis, the Algiers Accords (1981) were presented as a resolution. However, the 'diplomatic process' that led to them was fraught with back-channel dealings and took over 400 days. This established a precedent for lengthy, complex negotiations with Iran, often punctuated by periods of heightened tension and minimal transparency (US Department of State, 1981). The outcome was the release of
hostages, but not a fundamental shift in US-Iran relations, which remained adversarial. REPETITIONS: Nuclear Program Negotiations (2000s-2015) From the early 2000s, discussions regarding Iran's nuclear program were consistently described as a 'long and arduous process.' For well over a decade, successive US administrations, European powers, and Iran engaged in on-again, off-again talks. Each
phase, often lasting months or years, delivered incremental progress or stalemates, culminating in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2015. This agreement, while significant, itself contained sunset clauses, indicating that even 'resolved' issues were temporary, and the 'process' would inevitably require renegotiation. The outcome, the JCPOA, was lauded as a diplomatic achievement