The Bridge with Peter Mansbridge Who To Believe -- Iran or the United States?
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May 11, 2026 
Janice Stein, academic and foreign policy expert at the Munk School, offers sharp analysis of Iran, U.S. messaging and global consequences. She unpacks U.S. credibility, Iran’s factional decision-making and economic pressures. She also explores how U.S. incoherence affects allies, China’s leverage with Trump, and risks in Russia and Europe.
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U.S. Credibility Eroded By Erratic Messaging
- U.S. credibility on Iran is collapsing because messaging from Donald Trump is erratic and often contradicted by facts.
- Janice Stein says Trump's repeated weekend proclamations and hyperbole confuse allies and undermine coherent U.S. policy.
Iran Statements Reflect Internal Power Struggles
- Iran's public statements reflect internal factional bargaining rather than a single authoritative voice.
- Stein explains the foreign minister is a spokesperson while powerful Revolutionary Guard and supreme leader factions jockey and slow decisions.
Iran's Nuclear Deception Is Documented
- Iran has a documented history of hiding and disguising its nuclear enrichment activities.
- Stein notes Tehran repeatedly covered up enrichment sites and created alternative facilities, undermining trust on the nuclear issue.
