Inside Iran's US mistrust dilemma

SANCTIONS, CRACKDOWN, NUCLEAR TALKS SHAPE TEHRAN’S CALCULUS

- BY STEPHEN N.R.

Iran’s renewed warnings of “deep distrust” toward Washington underline the central paradox shaping the latest round of nuclear diplomacy: Tehran is talking not because it trusts the United States, but because pressure, sanctions and internal strain leave it little room not to.

The approach mirrors past rounds of engagement driven by pressure rather than confidence, as Tehran seeks to manage risk, buy time and extract economic relief even while hardening its posture at home.

That contradiction was on full display yesterday when Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said mistrust of the United States remained deep despite the resumption of talks over Tehran’s disputed nuclear programme.