With talks between the US and Iran continuing but still far from a deal—despite expectations raised for an agreement even over the weekend of June 6–7—and with President Trump claiming he could declare full-scale war again if an American soldier is killed, public opinion in the US is clearly calling on the president to make a deal now with Tehran. Polls show that American citizens are categorically against the continuation of the war, which means the only path forward is through negotiations. However, Trump is trapped here too, as Iran holds the absolute advantage in the talks and has no intention of backing down from its core objectives. Illustrative of the stalemate facing the US and Trump are the statements of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who said the Americans are currently asking Iran for everything that existed before the war began. According to Lavrov, the US is trying to disengage from Iran, but does not know how to do so at a time when the Revolutionary Guards point out that the Americans had already been defeated by the 10th day of the war with the humiliation continuing.
Trump, make a deal
Amidst this chaos and stalemate, and as the midterm election date approaches, the majority of Americans want the fastest possible end to the war with Iran and a transition to a deal. According to an Economist and YouGov poll, 68% of Americans believe that the United States should reach a deal with Iran as soon as possible and end the war. Conversely, only 11% disagree with this view, while 21% expressed no opinion. The poll demonstrates that continuing the war with Iran does not enjoy broad support from American public opinion. Furthermore, a portion of Republican voters maintains reservations regarding the continuation of the conflict and supports the government shifting toward a diplomatic solution.
Empty threats
However, Trump launched new threats against Iran, claiming that the scenario of restarting the war remains on the table. Asked if the death of American soldiers by Iran would be a "red line," he replied that such an event would be a serious reason to restart the war. "Yes, it would be a good reason. To be honest with you," Trump stated in response to reporters' questions in the Oval Office. "If they killed American soldiers, I think I would do it very quickly. Yes, it is a very interesting question," added Trump, who said a deal could be reached "this weekend," a position that was dismissed by Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, emphasizing that there has been "no significant progress" in the talks.
Hasan Hasanzadeh (IRGC): They were defeated from the 10th day of the war
The commander of the Tehran "Mohammad Rasoul Allah" Corps of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated that Trump and the Americans were defeated by the tenth day of the war and that the changes observed in certain positions and behaviors are due to the fact that the enemy has truly been defeated. Brigadier General Hasan Hasanzadeh, commander of the Tehran "Mohammad Rasoul Allah" Corps, in an interview with the Mehr agency regarding the military potential and the offensive and defensive capabilities of his unit against potential actions of the American-Zionist enemy, stated that "although it is not customary to reveal all our capabilities, the enemy knows that in every period it has clashed with us, it has seen from us capabilities, skills, and advantages it had not encountered before."
We will surprise them again
As he said, "our people must know that in the future, if the enemy makes a mistake again, they will be faced with scenes and developments that will surprise them again. In this regard, we assure the people that the readiness of our armed forces is much greater than it was at the beginning of the war," emphasized Hasan Hasanzadeh, stating that "in all these wars that you have seen, we have surprised the enemy in the face of our people, the will of our people, and our fighters."
We humiliated them
Hasanzadeh stressed that "all the assessments and calculations the enemy had until today not only were not verified and did not lead to the goals he had set, but furthermore, we achieved even greater advantages in the very areas he had chosen as targets." Referring to the view that the international community and the region have accepted the US defeat and Iran's victory, Hasanzadeh noted: "In my opinion, Trump and the Americans were already defeated by the tenth day of the war. The changes you observe today in their behavior and positions are due to the fact that our enemies were defeated and humiliated in the face of our people's will and the power of our armed forces and have no answer for their own people, their elites, their experts, and the global community."
They failed completely
"Today, by the grace of God, the whole world knows that the winner is the Iranian people, the Resistance Front, and Islamic Iran. Everyone knows that the Americans and the Zionist regime failed completely in their goals and, of course, must accept that they will kneel before our people and submit to this iron will, which for more than ninety nights has dynamically been present in the fields of action," said the Brigadier General of the Revolutionary Guards.
Araghchi (Iranian Foreign Minister): The army is ready
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in an interview with the Al Mayadeen television network, stated that the world was surprised by Iran's ability to respond immediately, while saying that the Iranian armed forces are ready at any moment to repeat military operations and strike Israel if deemed necessary. Araghchi mentioned that there is no concrete framework for negotiations at present, but the exchange of messages between Tehran and Washington continues. The Iranian Foreign Minister argued that the US underestimated Iran's power and that Washington sought through the war to force Tehran into surrender.
We will not surrender
As he noted, the first goal set by Donald Trump at the beginning of the war was the unconditional surrender of Iran, something that, he said, "is never going to happen." At the same time, he argued that other goals also failed, such as changing the political system and neutralizing the Iranian missile program. Araghchi stated that Iran does not desire war, was not the one who started it, and responded positively to proposals for negotiations. "Iran seeks peace and security, but a peace based on dignity and honor," stated Araghchi, who characterized Iran-Oman relations as brotherly and mentioned that Tehran and Muscat maintain close and continuous cooperation on issues concerning the Strait of Hormuz. He stressed that any decision on managing the strategically important maritime passage must be fully compatible with international law and that Iran's primary goal is ensuring the safe passage of all civilian ships through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran has the advantage in the talks
Jason Campbell, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute in Washington, stated that the perception that has formed now seems to constitute "95% of reality" and that Iran believes it is in an advantageous position in the talks with the United States to end the war. "Iran believes at this moment that it has the upper hand in the negotiations with the US," stated Campbell. According to him, Tehran is firmly insisting on receiving some form of concession for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, even setting it as a prerequisite for any progress. "It is particularly unyielding in securing some type of payment or concession for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, even as a prerequisite," he stated. Campbell added that Iran is also insisting that the United States find a way to pressure Israel to accept a real ceasefire in Lebanon. "It also insists that the United States must find a way to force Israel into a meaningful ceasefire in Lebanon and, most likely, even into the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon," he concluded.
The prolongation of the crisis complicates the White House narrative
Analysts argue that US President Donald Trump is again attempting to compare the conflict with Iran to the case of Venezuela, where the United States carried out an operation against the country's president, Nicolas Maduro. Trump claimed that the operation was completed in just 48 minutes, without, however, explaining how the case of Venezuela can be compared to the conflict in Iran. According to critics of the American administration, the situation with Iran is developing differently than the initial expectations of the White House. While the American side had implied that the crisis would be resolved quickly, negotiations remain pending and the talks have not resulted in any meaningful outcome. Critics also raise the question of why a negotiated agreement is still required, at a time when Trump has repeatedly stated that Iran's nuclear program has been "completely destroyed." A second question being posed is whether there is still a need for talks, if the military goals set by Washington are considered to have been achieved. The contradiction between statements of military success and the continuation of negotiations has become a subject of intense public debate in the US. Analysts point out that as long as the crisis is prolonged and no progress is made in the talks with Tehran, it becomes harder for the White House to convince American public opinion that its strategy is working. At the same time, the Trump administration continues to claim that it prefers a diplomatic solution, while its critics believe its messages remain contradictory.
iPaper: Washington considers realignment of its forces in the Middle East
According to a report by the British newspaper iPaper, the consequences of the war with Iran have led Washington to consider the possibility of realigning its military forces in the region. The report mentions that Tehran has made it clear that countries in the region will no longer be able to function as a protective shield for American bases and that the United States will no longer possess secure footholds for military operations or for what Iran characterizes as destabilizing actions.
Americans out
According to the report, Iran has set as one of its primary strategic goals the removal of American forces from the Middle East and considers that the war which took place during the presidency of Donald Trump brought this goal closer to its realization. The report notes that many of the largest American military installations in the region, particularly those located near Iran, were attacked with missiles and drones during the conflicts. At the same time, the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf that host American bases are beginning to wonder if the presence of the US now constitutes more of a burden and a security risk than an advantage. iPaper also reports that in leaked drafts of a peace agreement, Iran insists on the withdrawal of American forces from the region, although Washington has not announced that it is officially considering such an option.
Unlikely scenario
Dina Esfandiary, head of the Middle East department at Bloomberg Economics, told the newspaper that the Iranian leadership "fully feels that an opportunity has been created to advance its ultimate goal," which is to force the United States to leave the region. The report points out, however, that a full withdrawal of the American military from the Middle East is considered highly unlikely. Nevertheless, the Trump administration is facing growing internal and international pressure regarding the role and military presence of the US in the region. Andreas Krieg from King's College London stated that developments both in the Middle East and in the United States may ultimately favor Iran's strategic interests. "While many supporters of Iran question the necessity of the American presence in the region, in the Gulf countries, more and more voices are heard questioning why they should shoulder the cost of hosting American forces," stated Krieg.
No decision
On the other hand, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated last week that no decision has yet been made regarding the restoration of the bases that sustained damage, while the American Pentagon has not included the cost of repairing them in the overall estimates for the war. According to iPaper, these statements suggest that Washington is considering the possibility of realigning its forces in the region. Among the scenarios being discussed are the reduction of part of the American troops, strengthening the protection of those remaining, and moving certain units to bases further away from Iran.
Hurriedly to Israel
The report also mentions that during the war, the United States moved part of its military equipment and other military resources to Israel, which is considered by American officials to be a safer environment for stationing forces. Finally, the newspaper notes that, according to some experts, the American Department of Defense is likely not to proceed with the reconstruction of the headquarters of the United States Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, which could be an indication of a broader review of the American military presence in the Middle East.
Putin: We can help with Iran's nuclear program
Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that he hopes a negotiated solution to the conflict with Iran will be reached, acceptable to all sides, and stressed that Russia is ready to assist if needed. "We are ready to offer help, as we did in 2015," he stated during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on Thursday. Russia had played an important role in the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, taking on the task of transferring most of the enriched uranium out of the country. "We did it in the past and we are ready to do it again now," stated Putin, reiterating Moscow's offer to take Iran's enriched uranium. "We maintain good and trusting relations with Iran," said the Russian President, who underlined that the uranium should be placed under the control of the International Atomic Energy Agency and that the international community, including the United States and Israel, should participate in the process of its management and removal.
Intervention by Lavrov (Russian Foreign Minister): The US does not know how to disengage from Iran
The United States feels uncomfortable with the situation around Iran and does not know how to get out of it, stated Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in an interview with the Russian newspaper Izvestia. "The President of the United States, Donald Trump, had stated at some point that 'we will destroy Iran as a civilization.' It was a bold ambition. No one doubts that this goal is unattainable," said Lavrov, pointing out that "it is no coincidence that the United States fully understands this situation and feels uncomfortable with it, as evidenced by their statements and actions, while they do not know how to disengage." The Russian Minister also referred to American demands for Iran to abandon the idea of acquiring nuclear weapons and to open the Strait of Hormuz. "Before the unprovoked American-Israeli aggression that began on February 28, the Strait of Hormuz operated freely for everyone and no one faced problems. Before the start of this aggression, the fatwa of the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was in effect in Iran, which prohibited the possession of nuclear weapons. The International Atomic Energy Agency regularly confirmed that there were no indications of the conversion of the Iranian nuclear program into a military one. The entire nuclear program was under the control of the agency," stated Lavrov. According to him, "everything being demanded from Iran today already existed before the start of this aggression."
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