The British newspaper The Telegraph published a report describing the administration-led peace talks with Iran under President Donald Trump as chaotic and unstable. According to analysts, the American strategy has shifted from a "calculated" military plan to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons to an utter mess dependent on the president's moods. An insider in the administration told the paper: "It seems no one in leadership understands what is happening, what plans exist, or what our end goal is. It's total chaos, and no one is accountable for anything."
The report notes the absence of a clear strategic concept in the White House, where Trump has become isolated from traditional structures that shape policy during conflicts. The president prefers to rely on intuition and a small circle of close aides rather than lengthy National Security Council meetings. He expresses his thoughts through daily social media posts. Every day Trump is shown video clips highlighting the achievements of American forces while omitting military setbacks and difficulties, which creates a rosy picture of the situation on the ground.
Concern is growing within the administration that advisers present the president with a "rosy picture" of the conflict while hiding the real stalemate, White House senior staffer Suzy Wiles told the paper. This manipulation of facts convinced Trump that everything was going according to plan, despite the war not being concluded after 52 days. Analysts believe that the disconnect from battlefield realities only intensifies the chaos and undermines the administration's ability to make measured decisions.
The article also examines the circle of people influencing the president's decisions. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is highlighted as one of the main proponents of continuing the conflict, giving military operations a "religious" cast. According to the analysis, Trump publicly stated that Hegseth "doesn't want the war to end." dissenting voices inside the administration have been muted: J.D. Vance was tasked with conducting peace talks, which distracted him from criticizing the war, and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has kept silent to avoid being fired.
Former national security adviser John Bolton said that "the president now does what he wants," pointing to a weakening of discussion and assessment mechanisms within the administration compared with earlier periods. This impunity in decision-making has driven the White House into a state of panic, as officials realized that Europeans would not intervene to save the situation. As a result, Trump began whispering to close aides that "he no longer wants to deal with this" and is seeking a quick way out, reflecting growing frustration. Although the president announced the extension of a ceasefire thanks to Pakistan's mediation, negotiations remain at an impasse. The report questions the ability of an "unorganized" administration to resolve the crisis, suggesting that internal chaos and impulsive decisions may only exacerbate the conflict.
Comments on the news
- How do Iran's official demands and red lines at the nuclear negotiations read? - Iran officially demands the full lifting of all sanctions, recognition of the right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes (including levels up to 60% or higher) and guarantees of non-interference by the US in its internal affairs. Red lines include refusal of inspections of military nuclear sites (for example, military bases) and the inadmissibility of restrictions on nuclear technology development after the expiration of agreements.
- What role does Pakistan play in mediating between the US and Iran, given its own relations with both countries? - Pakistan acts as an informal mediator, using its close ties with Saudi Arabia (a US ally) and Iran (through the Shiite minority and trade interests). Its role is to relay messages, reduce tensions and promote dialogue, although its own relations with the US are complicated by counterterrorism issues, and with Iran — by Sunni-Shia differences.
- What factors influence decision-making within Iran's leadership in the context of talks with the US? - Major factors include the position of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei (the final word), pressure from conservative factions in the parliament, economic sanctions and social protests, as well as geopolitical considerations (for example, relations with Russia and China). The internal struggle between supporters of pragmatic dialogue (President Pezheshkian) and the hardline camp (the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) also strongly influences decisions.
Full version: فوضى التفاوض.. كواليس التخبط الأمريكي في مفاوضات إيران