Time To Say Goodbye How Trump Chose War with Iran, a Political History with Robert Malley and Stephen Wertheim
Mar 9, 2026
Stephen Wertheim, historian of U.S. foreign policy and Carnegie analyst, and Robert Malley, experienced diplomat and former lead JCPOA negotiator, trace a decade of U.S.-Iran relations. They discuss bipartisan constraints, Trump’s negotiating gambits and risk-taking, domestic political incentives shaping policy, the dangers of personalized, impulsive leadership, and possible pathways — and perils — for deescalation.
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Zero Enrichment Poisoned Diplomacy
- Trump oscillated from diplomacy to maximum-pressure demands (e.g., zero enrichment) that poisoned talks because he misread Iranian interests and sought dominance.
- Negotiators shifted positions (3.67% to zero) and lacked detailed file knowledge, undercutting any credible diplomatic path.
Trump Could've Broken The Negotiating Mold
- Robert Malley thought Trump might uniquely clinch a durable deal because he could break political norms and offer more economic incentives to Iran.
- He recounts how Trump could have lifted primary sanctions and attract American business, but negotiators flubbed technical terms like enrichment levels.
Domestic Politics Constrain Democratic Options
- Domestic U.S. politics—especially influential lawmakers like Senator Menendez and congressional calculus—constrain Democratic presidents from taking bolder Iran steps.
- Biden lacked urgency and political will to prioritize risky Iran diplomacy early in his term.