Where Are We in the Iranian Negotiations?

Peloni:  FDD’s Benham Ben Taleblu joins Sarah Stern to discuss the state of negotiations with Iran and what to look for going forward.

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May 23, 2026 | 12 Comments »

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  1. AI Overview Yes. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung publicly told former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to “shut his stupid mouth” after Pompeo criticized the Trump administration’s emerging peace deal with Iran.Cheung aggressively defended the administration’s negotiations on social media, stating that Pompeo “has no idea what the f— he’s talking about” and should leave the work to professionals since he is not read into the current situation. The public clash occurred after Pompeo posted on X that the potential Iran deal was “not remotely America First” and resembled an Obama-era agreement.

    The Hill cited as source

  2. Avi Abelow on FB:

    The emerging reports about this proposed agreement with Iran should concern anyone who actually understands the Middle East, not through the naïve lens of Western diplomacy, but through the reality of Islamic jihadist ideology and regional power politics.

    If the reports are accurate, this looks like a very bad deal.
    But at the same time, it is important to emphasize: this is still not a finalized agreement, and this war may not be over at all.

    Unlike the weak appeasement policies of previous Western administrations, President Trump is still keeping massive armed forces positioned throughout the Middle East, and this has been the best policy vis a vis Iran from any Western government. That matters. It means President Trump still has leverage and military options on the table if/when Iran refuses to comply or continues playing games.

    And let us be honest: Iran is already signaling that it has no intention of truly surrendering its enriched uranium.

    Iranian state media is openly denying key elements reportedly included in the framework discussions.

    As reported by an official Iranian news agency:
    – We did not agree to remove nuclear materials from the country, nor will we agree to any reference to this in the framework agreement.
    – The claim that we agreed to halt nuclear activity for 20 years is false.
    – The lifting of the blockade on Hormuz depends on the implementation of American commitments. It is not automatic, and it can also be reversed.

    That alone should tell everyone how fragile and potentially meaningless this entire deal may become.

    The Strait of Hormuz will also be a major test. If Iran does not remove the naval mines or if international shipping companies still refuse to safely pass through the strait because of Iranian mines, threats, intimidation, or instability, then this “agreement” becomes little more than political theater. It will be very interesting to see how Trump reacts if global commerce remains paralyzed despite the headlines declaring “peace.”

    At the same time, we must understand something the Western mindset consistently fails to grasp: in the Islamist world, survival itself is viewed as victory.

    The Islamic jihadi regime of Iran can now proclaim to the Arab and Muslim world that it survived Israel and America and lived to continue the jihad another day.

    Even if Iran suffered devastating blows militarily and strategically, simply remaining standing allows the regime to frame this as a win internally and regionally.

    That is a mindset too many in the West simply do not understand. Hence, they don’t understand the importance of actual victory over jihadist Muslims.

    For Israel, the situation is far from ideal. But let us not ignore reality either. Israel today is still in a much stronger strategic position than before this war against Iran began.

    Iran’s military infrastructure, prestige, deterrence, regional positioning, and exposure have all been significantly damaged. The illusion of Iranian invincibility has been shattered.

    There is also a much bigger geopolitical layer to this entire war that many people are missing.

    This conflict is not only about Iran, uranium, missiles, or even Israel. It is also deeply connected to the global economic order that Trump is trying to impact, China, European weakness that allowed a nuclear Iran, energy dependency, shipping routes, and the future balance of world power.

    China depends heavily on Middle Eastern energy flowing through the Strait of Hormuz.

    Europe is already economically fragile after years of failed energy policies and dependence on unstable global supply chains. The disruption of oil, gas, shipping, insurance, and trade routes caused by this war is putting enormous pressure not only on Iran, but on China, Europe, and the entire global economic/trade system, which has been bad for America manufacturing, Americans, and their personal bank accounts.

    That is why it is possible that these ongoing negotiations and temporary agreements by Trump are serving a larger strategic purpose beyond simply “making peace” with Iran. It could be that prolonging this uncertainty continues weakening China economically, exposing Europe’s vulnerability, reshaping global trade realities, and pressuring the international system in ways beneficial to American strategic interests before eventually returning to fully dismantle the jihadist Islamic regime in Iran militarily.

    Whether that is the actual strategy or not, one thing is clear: this war is already reshaping the global order far beyond the Middle East itself.

    And Israel is emerging from this war as a regional superpower, with Trump giving Israel far greater backing and operational freedom to do what is necessary to defend itself on every front.

    Just think about how dramatically reality has changed.

    Before October 7th, the IDF leadership was hesitant to even remove a single Hezbollah tent illegally set up in no man’s land in violation of internationally signed agreements and the international Blue Line understandings.

    Yet look where we are today: Israel openly striking Hezbollah deep inside Lebanon, with IDF positions in Southern Lebanon, dismantling Hamas infrastructure throughout Gaza, with over 60% of Gaza under Israeli rule, and targeting strategic assets of the Islamic regime inside Iran itself. The entire regional equation has shifted. What once seemed “too dangerous diplomatically” or “too escalatory” before October 7th has now become the new norm in the Middle East, understood as necessary for Israel’s survival and long-term security.

    The real question is not only where Israel stands today, but whether Israel will still be able to operate with this same level of freedom and determination in a post-Trump world.

    And personally, I still do not believe Trump will truly end this war if Iran refuses to give up its enriched uranium in a verifiable way. Trump may want a deal, but he also understands strength, leverage, and appearances. Allowing Iran to openly cheat while pretending peace has been achieved would ultimately project weakness, and Trump understands that better than most Western leaders.

    But whether this deal moves forward or collapses, the most important lesson remains exactly the same.

    Our future does not depend on Trump.?It does not depend on Netanyahu.?And it does not depend on any human leader.
    Our future depends on Hashem.?And on us.

    On our faith.?On our strength.?On our unity. And on whether we have the courage to stand proudly as Jews, defend our homeland, and fulfill our national destiny, no matter what the nations of the world decide to do.

    Am Yisrael Chai!!!

    https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02zWW7aMkPNU1LTmbBWjrghtQuKwTskg6soM3SE8qasB93V1MtcyMyMGCg3yYX5tUbl&id=545522241

  3. There have been 4 Iranian attempts on Trump’s life and one on Ivanka’s. Does Trump strike anybody as a “let bygones be bygones” “turn the other cheek” kind’a guy?

  4. Iran’s economy is imploding. The delay and prevarication is a form of warfare. I’m reminded of the Nasruddin story about the smuggler who could never be caught who admits to the retiring border guard, in the end, that what he had been smuggling, all along, was camels. Then again, I could be wrong. I often am.

    Donald Trump holds a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He graduated from the Ivy League institution in 1968 after transferring from Fordham University in 1966.

    AI Overview

  5. what did trump say about sun tzu’s art of war 330 years ago There is no public record of Donald Trump making a statement about Sun Tzu’s The Art of War 330 years ago, as the text itself was written in the 5th century BC, and Trump was not yet born.If you are referring to Trump’s well-known remarks from his time in the public eye, he has previously quoted Sun Tzu’s most famous proverb on his social media:”The Supreme Art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.” — Sun Tzu

    Humor: “Galaxy Quest (1999) – We pretended – We lied”

    https://youtu.be/-VGajDTNKFU?si=zKeisC21P7c4UfvM

  6. “The final key to the way I promote is bravado. I play to people’s fantasies. People may not always think big themselves, but they can still get very excited by those who do. That’s why a little hyperbole never hurts. People want to believe that something is the biggest and the greatest and the most spectacular. I call it truthful hyperbole. It’s an innocent form of exaggeration—and a very effective form of promotion.”
    p. 58 “Art of the Deal” by Donald J. Trump Wikiquote

  7. 17. According as circumstances are favorable, one should modify one’s plans.

    18. All warfare is based on deception.

    19. Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.

    20. Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him.

    21. If he is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is in superior strength, evade him.

    22. If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant.

    23. If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. If his forces are united, separate them.

    24. Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected.

    25. These military devices, leading to victory, must not be divulged beforehand.

    26. Now the general who wins a battle makes many calculations in his temple ere the battle is fought. The general who loses a battle makes but few calculations beforehand. Thus do many calculations lead to victory, and few calculations to defeat: how much more no calculation at all! It is by attention to this point that I can foresee who is likely to win or lose.

    https://classics.mit.edu/Tzu/artwar.html

  9. I’m totally disgusted with Trump. The Arabs didn’t contribute to a damn thing in this war but he’s listening to them while sidelining Israel which fought alongside America.

    If this is true, then I am done with Trump for good and he will have entirely destroyed his legacy and will leave office with an Iranian victory and American humiliated along with an existential danger to Israel. I certainly hope Israel has contingency plans.

    Israel should have taken care of Iran years ago instead of waiting for an American president to act. Trump is a chump.
    https://x.com/mdubowitz/status/2058199141763752288

    https://x.com/marklevinshow/status/2058238313044058536

    There’s also this. Witkoff has to go.

    https://x.com/marklevinshow/status/2058246795721949655