US Diplomacy: The Art of Negotiating with a Club
Iranian officials are once again at the negotiating table, attempting to hammer out a deal regarding their nuclear program. This comes despite, or perhaps because of, a rather conspicuous American military buildup in the region. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi mentioned that details were being drafted, a diplomatic nicety that sounds almost quaint against the backdrop of saber-rattling. It is a
familiar rhythm, this two-step of dialogue and military muscle flexing. We have seen this show before. The unilateral American withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2018, by the Trump administration, after Iran had adhered to its terms for years, provides a clear precedent. That betrayal led to Iran scaling back their own commitments, a predictable response to broken
promises. Now, as the Biden administration supposedly seeks re-engagement, the rhetoric from envoy Steve Witkoff still frames Iran as intransigent, wondering aloud why Tehran hasn't 'capitulated'. One might ask what exactly they are expected to capitulate to, given decades of sanctions and constant pressure for a government change, a goal pursued since the 1953 CIA coup against Prime Minister
Mohammad Mosaddegh. The current talks occur while the constant threat of military action looms. A recent Freedom of Navigation Operation involved a US Navy aircraft carrier group, the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, cruising through the Strait of Hormuz. This is a common tactic, sending a clear message of force. It is the same strategy that saw B-52 bombers deployed to the region in 2021 as a