With a Deal Seemingly Close, the U.S. Faces an Iran More Willing to Withstand Pressure

Article excerpt

As negotiations over Iran's nuclear program appear to near completion, U.S. officials confront a starkly different Iranian leadership than before. The war, which toppled Iran's previous regime, has left the country with leaders convinced they've already weathered America and Israel's harshest blows and therefore willing to accept greater risks in talks. This shift in Tehran's calculus, born from both regime change and perceived strategic survival, complicates Washington's traditional pressure tactics as both sides approach what could be a consequential agreement.