The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive diplomatic matters, said Tehran’s leaders have so far refused to give Trump what he needs to save face and walk away. The deeper problem, the official added, is that Trump does not seem to understand that the Iranians need to save face too.
The concern is shared by a broader circle of current and former U.S. and Arab officials who have watched the negotiations unfold. In interviews with 10 such officials, a consistent worry emerged: Trump’s history of nursing grudges, ridiculing opponents and insisting that he alone emerges victorious could prove the single biggest obstacle to ending a conflict that has strained the world economy. While face-saving is important in any diplomatic negotiation, the officials said, it is especially critical for Iranians, for both cultural reasons and the domestic political pressures facing the leadership in Tehran.
At the heart of the matter is whether Trump is willing to show Tehran’s Islamist leaders enough respect to let them claim some level of victory, even if they agree to U.S. demands that leave them militarily weaker. The president’s constant belittling of Iranian leaders has alarmed officials who worry that such insults could derail a comprehensive agreement. One former U.S. official with direct experience dealing with Iran noted that the cultural imperative to save face is not merely a diplomatic nicety but a practical necessity for any Iranian leader who must sell a deal at home.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated Tuesday that negotiations were focused on creating a road map for future talks rather than a final settlement. Axios later reported that negotiators were hammering out a memo to declare an end to the war and give themselves 30 days to devise a more comprehensive long-term agreement. The senior Gulf official familiar with the peace talks confirmed there has been progress toward agreeing on a basic framework, though the details remain fragile.
Asked about the status of the talks, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said only that “conversations continue.” The brevity of the statement reflected the sensitivity of the discussions, which are taking place against a backdrop of global economic strain caused by the prolonged conflict.
Michael Ratney, a former U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia, offered a simple piece of advice for Trump as the negotiations proceed. Ideally, Ratney said, the president would say nothing at all while his envoys deal with the technical details of the agreement. The comment underscored a broader anxiety among diplomats: that Trump’s public commentary could undermine the very progress his administration is trying to achieve.
