Why Trump Chose Vance to Negotiate With Iran
There is no overlap between what America is demanding and what Iran is offering.
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Majid Saeedi / Getty Trump’s Fundamental Misunderstanding in Iran
What makes the nation suffer helps the regime thrive.
Illustration by Lucy Naland. Sources: Brendan Smialowski / AFP / Getty; Fatemeh Bahrami / Anadolu / Getty; Atta Kenare / AFP / Getty. Iran Is Trying to Defeat America in the Living Room
The regime knows that its best ally against American power is American public opinion.
Morteza Nikoubazl / NurPhoto / Getty The Iranian Regime Doubles Down
Trump was hoping for an Iranian Delcy Rodríguez. Instead, he may have produced an Iranian Kim Jong Un.
Illustration by The Atlantic. Sources: Reza B / Middle East Images / AFP; Getty. Trump Has Lost the Plot in Iran
Tehran hopes that he will declare a hollow victory and abort the mission.
Illustration by The Atlantic. Sources: ZUMA Press Wire / Reuters; Reuters; Morteza Nikoubazi / NurPhoto / Getty. The Death of Khamenei and the End of an Era
His life’s work was to preserve a revolution that is heading for the ash heap.
Ahmad Al-Rubaye / AFP / Getty The Epic Miscalculations of Trump and Khamenei
Hubris has distorted their strategic decisions.
Chip Somodevilla / Getty; Atta Kenare / AFP / Getty The Iranian Hedgehog vs. the American Fox
The American and Iranian leaders are complete enigmas to each other—and the asymmetry in their beliefs is driving the crisis between their countries.
Illustration by The Atlantic. Source: Celal Gunes / Anadolu / Getty; Pool / Iranian Religious Leader Press Office / Anadolu Agency / Getty. The Islamic Republic’s Predatory Contract With Its People
No one would agree to the terms that Iran’s regime has forced on its citizens.
Illustration by The Atlantic. Sources: Kaveh Kazemi / Getty; Nanna Heitman / Magnum; Thomas Dworzak / Magnum Trump’s Fateful Choice in Iran
Taking military action is risky. Falsely encouraging freedom fighters would be shameful.
UGC / AP
