Iran No Longer Speaks Language of Diplomacy. It Speaks Language of Victor

The main problem with American policy in the Middle East is that Washington still does not understand whom it is dealing with. For decades, the West has continued negotiating with the East according to its own logic of compromise, diplomacy, and mutual concessions. But the Middle East lives by different rules. For Europe and the United States, negotiations are a way to avoid war. For the Middle East, war is a way to determine the terms of negotiations. Compromise becomes possible only after a demonstration of strength. And if one side manages to hold out, it already considers itself the victor. That is exactly how Iran views today's negotiations with the United States. Washington tries to present the current situation as successful "containment” of Tehran. But in Iran's political logic, everything looks completely different: the country endured 40 days of continuous strikes, the elimination of part of its political and military leadership, sanctions pressure, attacks on allies, and attempts at regional isolation — yet it neither collapsed nor lost control over its regime, military, or influence. In Tehran's eyes, that means victory.