Fear of U.S. attack pushes Iran toward diplomacy

Talks with the U.S. should be pursued to secure national interests as long as "threats and unreasonable expectations" are avoided, President Masoud Pezeshkian posted on X on Tuesday.

"Taking into account demands from friendly regional countries to respond to the U.S. President's suggestion for talks, I instructed the foreign minister to prepare the ground for equitable and fair negotiations ... should an atmosphere free of threats and unreasonable expectations arise," Pezeshkian said.

The Iranian regime is alarmed by the prospect of a U.S. military strike. This fear explains why Tehran has suddenly signaled a willingness to engage in talks. 

However, there is no guarantee that dialogue will produce tangible results. The ruling clerics show no sign of abandoning their nuclear ambitions, missile program, or their efforts to destabilize the Middle East through proxy groups such as Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Hamas—organizations designated as terrorist groups that continue to threaten regional stability.