Experts familiar with Iran’s nuclear negotiation strategies have recently offered a stark warning to U.S. negotiators about the potential pitfalls of reaching a flawed nuclear deal, similar to that of former President Obama. When President Trump exited the nuclear agreement in 2018, he sharply criticized it, claiming it was a “horrifying, one-sided deal.” He argued that the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) had failed to prevent Iran from advancing its nuclear weapons capabilities.
A report by the United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) has detailed ten tactics that Iran utilizes during negotiations to secure significant concessions while retaining the ability to develop nuclear arms.
Increased executions likely during talks
The report, titled “Art of the Deal of Iran”—a nod to Trump’s iconic book—was authored by Saeid Golkar, Jason M. Brodsky, and Kasra Aarabi. According to UANI, these tactics enable Iran to gain an upper hand in negotiations compared to the U.S. and its allies.
Deception
Iran often makes vague promises, keeping conversations going without offering tangible results.
Good cop, bad cop
This approach creates a façade of political diversity, with a clear power dynamic favoring the Supreme Leader.
Promises of future business opportunities
Empty investment pledges are dangled to lure Western interests, only to disappear later.
Exaggerated threats
Iran may issue inflated threats to disrupt decisive policy actions in the U.S., fostering an anti-war climate.
The art of ambiguity
By using vague language, Iran manages to extract advantages without making firm commitments.
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Protracted discussions
Engaging in lengthy, tedious dialogues can delay real outcomes while allowing for superficial agreements.
Historical grievances
These are invoked to rationalize current actions and shift blame away from Iran.
Divide and conquer
Iran seeks to exploit divisions between Western allies and within U.S. administrations.
Bazaar mentality and Taarov
Negotiating with inflated demands followed by gradual concessions that obscure intentions.
Influence and media manipulation
Selective leaks and media narratives portray Iran as a diplomatic player and rational entity.
UANI provides insights into how the Iranian regime aims to maximize gains with minimal compromises through these deceptive tactics. The report claims to be based on direct insights from individuals who’ve interacted with Iranian officials and experts.
Recently, the U.S. and Iran completed their third round of indirect nuclear discussions, with potential new talks set to occur in Europe. Iran has reached out to European powers like the UK, France, and Germany ahead of the next phase, indicating a careful balancing act as it gauges their attitudes regarding renewed UN sanctions by October, when the 2015 agreement’s ratification expires.
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Experts assert that Iran is attempting to leverage the European Union to fracture Western alliances, a strategy deeply rooted in the anti-American sentiments of Supreme Leader Khamenei. They argue that Iran’s negotiations aim to minimize the conditions that might provoke military action from Israel and the U.S.
While President Trump may prefer diplomatic avenues to counter Iran’s nuclear ambitions, he recently reiterated that failure in negotiations might escalate into conflict. In a related note, President Biden has criticized Trump for permitting Iran to enrich itself during these discussions.
This report includes contributions from Fox News and Reuters.
