Desperate For A Deal

Below is an article I found on a reputable web site that gives a interesting view of Trump’s past statements on the “deal” with Iran. I voted for Trump 3 times, I still support him, but…his constant clambering for the deal of the century is getting old. Time frames, red lines in the sand etc, with no repercussions for Iran will not work. Iran is stalling for time, knowing that the US has mid term elections coming up. Economic restraints weigh heavily on a free flow of oil. I even posted an article about needing to secure Kharg Island for an ultimate victory. Soon we saw a halt in hostilities. Finish the job Mr. President. Your weakness is showing. Rh

A careful review of President Trump’s public statements over the past several months reveals an unprecedented pattern: on no fewer than 37 different occasions, he claimed that a deal with Iran was essentially complete and ready to be signed—what now appears to have been a messaging campaign largely disconnected from developments on the ground.

Trump’s virtual diplomatic campaign began as early as March 23, less than a month after the war began. Speaking to reporters outside Air Force One, he claimed that major points of agreement had already been reached:

“There are major points of agreement—I would say almost all the points of agreement.”

The following day, the president began repeating a familiar theme: that Iran was desperate for a deal. On March 25, he said Iran wanted “to make a deal so badly,” and a day later, during a Cabinet meeting, he escalated the rhetoric, claiming that Iran was “begging to make a deal.” When asked aboard Air Force One on March 29 whether he expected an agreement within the coming week, he replied confidently:

“I do see a deal with Iran, yes.”

As time passed, Trump’s predictions became even more emphatic. On April 6, he said the parties had been “very close to a deal” before a minor delay. The next day, April 7, he announced on social media that negotiations were in a highly advanced stage:

“We’re at a very advanced stage, but we need two weeks for the agreement to be completed and implemented. It’s a great honor to see this long-standing problem so close to being solved.”

When those two weeks passed without an agreement, Trump continued making optimistic declarations. On April 15, he told CNN:

“I think it’s close to being finished. I see it as very close to being finished. We’ll see what happens. I think they desperately want to make a deal.”

On April 17, during three separate public appearances, he claimed that Iran had “agreed to everything” and that the deal would be signed “within a day or two.” On April 20, he posted on Truth Social:

“Everything will happen relatively quickly!”

On April 30, he again insisted that Iran was “dying to make a deal.”

On May 18, when announcing a postponement of military strikes at the request of regional countries, Trump partially acknowledged that his earlier predictions had failed, but immediately qualified the admission:

“There were times when we thought we were very close to a deal and it didn’t work out, but this time it’s a little different.”

It wasn’t.

On May 23, he again claimed that the agreement was “mostly negotiated and drafted, pending final approval.” More recently, in an interview with Axios, Trump blamed both Israel and Iran for undermining his efforts because of what he called a “side fight,” declaring:

“We’re very close to a final deal with Iran. It’s going to be a good deal. I don’t want it to blow up because of what’s happening now.”

The latest installment came last night during a conference call held on behalf of Senator Lindsey Graham, where Trump repeated the promise for the 37th time:

“We’re negotiating right now. They want to make a very good deal. They’re willing to give us everything.”

According to this analysis, Trump’s determination to sell the public on an agreement that has yet to materialize appears to stem from two primary motivations.

First, he is attempting to prevent a sharp spike in global oil prices and major turbulence in financial markets, especially in light of Iran’s official threats to target regional energy infrastructure belonging to the United States and its allies.

Second, Trump appears to believe that by repeatedly declaring in public that Iran is “desperate” and “ready to give us everything,” he can pressure the parties back to the negotiating table and, in effect, create a diplomatic reality through persistent messaging.