| Iran’s distrust clouds path to peace |
Photo illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Photos: Majid Saeedi and Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesIranian 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. |
-
Archives
- March 2026
- February 2026
- January 2026
- December 2025
- November 2025
- October 2025
- September 2025
- August 2025
- July 2025
- June 2025
- May 2025
- April 2025
- March 2025
- February 2025
- January 2025
- December 2024
- November 2024
- October 2024
- September 2024
- August 2024
- July 2024
- June 2024
- May 2024
- April 2024
- March 2024
- February 2024
- January 2024
- December 2023
- November 2023
- October 2023
- September 2023
- August 2023
- July 2023
- June 2023
- May 2023
- April 2023
- March 2023
- February 2023
- January 2023
- December 2022
- November 2022
- October 2022
- September 2022
- August 2022
- July 2022
- June 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022
- February 2022
- January 2022
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- October 2019
- September 2019
- August 2019
- July 2019
- June 2019
- May 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- October 2018
- September 2018
- July 2018
- June 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- March 2015
- January 2015
-
Meta
Photo illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Photos: Majid Saeedi and Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg via Getty Images