There is no art to Trump’s Iran deal

Key Points:

• Over Memorial Day weekend, President Donald Trump announced an imminent deal between the U.S. and Iran to end the nearly three-month-old war, but the Islamic Republic quickly denied the claim, revealing no actual agreement had been reached.
• Trump canceled personal plans and golf outings, signaling seriousness, but his subsequent backpedaling and contradictory statements highlighted the lack of progress and the performative nature of his dealmaking claims.
• The rumored deal, reportedly weaker than the 2015 Obama-era nuclear agreement, would involve lifting sanctions and allowing Iran some nuclear program aspects in exchange for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, sparking criticism from Republican hawks and officials.
• Negotiations led by Trump’s envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff have stalled on critical issues like Iran’s nuclear material and control of the Strait of Hormuz, with no resolution in sight despite optimistic insider reports.
• The article concludes that Trump’s handling of the conflict has weakened the U.S. position, empowered Iran as a regional power, and left the prospects for peace and American influence in the Middle East diminished.