Trump keeps negotiating while Iran plays the long game America keeps missing

Summary

Iran's theocratic leadership has consistently outmaneuvered American negotiators across four decades, from the 1979 hostage crisis through recent nuclear talks. The piece argues Washington repeatedly miscalculates Tehran's intentions and strategic patience, treating temporary agreements as permanent victories while Iran views negotiations as a tool for buying time and extracting concessions. From hostage-taking to nuclear brinkmanship, the regime has demonstrated a willingness to endure sanctions and isolation to advance long-term goals, a calculus U.S. policymakers, including those in the Trump administration, fail to internalize when approaching the negotiating table.