Axios: Iran’s distrust clouds path the peace

 Iran’s distrust clouds path to peace
 
Photo illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Photos: Majid Saeedi and Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Iranian officials have told the countries trying to mediate peace talks with the U.S. that they have been tricked twice by President Trump and “don’t want to be fooled again,” according to a source with direct knowledge of those discussions, Axios’ Barak Ravid and Marc Caputo report.

The U.S. is pushing for in-person peace talks as soon as tomorrow in Islamabad.

But during both previous rounds of U.S.–Iran talks, Trump approved crippling surprise attacks while still claiming to want a deal. 

Iranian officials have told the mediators — Pakistan, Egypt and Turkey — that U.S. military movements and Trump’s decision to deploy reinforcements have made them suspicious of his proposal for peace talks.

Several U.S. fighter jet squadrons and thousands of troops are expected to arrive in the Middle East soon.

A White House official said a ground operation is an option but stressed Trump hasn’t made a decision. 

To the Trump administration, the massing of forces is a sign he’s serious about negotiating from gunboats, not that he’s negotiating in bad faith.

One Trump adviser says: “Trump has a hand open for a deal and the other is a fist, waiting to punch you in the f***ing face.” 

The White House has sent messages to the Iranians that Trump wants to negotiate and floated Vice President Vance’s possible involvement as proof.

But Trump is simultaneously trying to build up options for diplomacy and military escalation in order to be able to decide based on developments, U.S. and Israeli officials say.

The officials say another two to three weeks of war is planned, even if talks do happen.Go deeper.
    
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About michelleclarke2015

Life event that changes all: Horse riding accident in Zimbabwe in 1993, a fractured skull et al including bipolar anxiety, chronic fatigue …. co-morbidities (Nietzche 'He who has the reason why can deal with any how' details my health history from 1993 to date). 17th 2017 August operation for breast cancer (no indications just an appointment came from BreastCheck through the Post). Trinity College Dublin Business Economics and Social Studies (but no degree) 1997-2003; UCD 1997/1998 night classes) essays, projects, writings. Trinity Horizon Programme 1997/98 (Centre for Women Studies Trinity College Dublin/St. Patrick's Foundation (Professor McKeon) EU Horizon funded: research study of 15 women (I was one of this group and it became the cornerstone of my journey to now 2017) over 9 mth period diagnosed with depression and their reintegration into society, with special emphasis on work, arts, further education; Notes from time at Trinity Horizon Project 1997/98; Articles written for Irishhealth.com 2003/2004; St Patricks Foundation monthly lecture notes for a specific period in time; Selection of Poetry including poems written by people I know; Quotations 1998-2017; other writings mainly with theme of social justice under the heading Citizen Journalism Ireland. Letters written to friends about life in Zimbabwe; Family history including Michael Comyn KC, my grandfather, my grandmother's family, the O'Donnellan ffrench Blake-Forsters; Moral wrong: An acrimonious divorce but the real injustice was the Catholic Church granting an annulment – you can read it and make your own judgment, I have mine. Topics I have written about include annual Brain Awareness week, Mashonaland Irish Associataion in Zimbabwe, Suicide (a life sentence to those left behind); Nostalgia: Tara Hill, Co. Meath.
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