The Real Reason Iran Hasn’t Struck a Deal
The ongoing standoff between Iran and the United States is not due to internal divisions within Iran, as the Trump administration claims, but because both sides believe they have already won the conflict. Iran has resisted U.S. demands to halt uranium enrichment and scale back its missile program, viewing its endurance through war and sanctions as a sign of strength. Despite U.S. efforts like blockades and threats of targeted strikes, Iran remains defiant, calculating it can outlast American political and economic pressure.
- ▪Iran offered to open the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for lifting the U.S. blockade, which Trump rejected.
- ▪The Trump administration blames hard-liners in Iran’s regime, particularly within the IRGC, for blocking a deal.
- ▪Both Iran and the U.S. believe they have won the conflict, making compromise unlikely despite years of sanctions and military pressure.
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GlobalThe Real Reason Iran Hasn’t Struck a DealThe standoff isn’t about hard-liners blocking pragmatists inside Iran, but about both sides believing that they have won the war.By Thomas WrightA man walks the shoreline on Iran's Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz. (Asghar Besharati / Getty)May 1, 2026, 9:42 AM ET ShareSave On Monday, Iran made Donald Trump an offer: It would open the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for lifting the U.S. blockade while nuclear negotiations continued. On Wednesday, Trump rejected this offer, promising to keep the blockade in place until Iran agrees to America’s terms on the nuclear issue. The blockade “is genius,” he said, and “now they have to cry uncle. That’s all they have to do.
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