Iran-US trade fire again: Why Tehran’s hardliners think they can outlast Trump

Iran and the United States have resumed military exchanges, ending a period of declining tensions. This comes after six months of war and a difficult decision for Tehran: negotiate with Washington while it still can, or hold out in the belief that Iran can outlast President Trump. The latest incident involved Iranian missiles hitting US air bases in Jordan and the UAE, marking the first direct exchange of fire in a month.

Iranian hardliners argue that six months of survival proves their point and justify continued resistance, prolonging economic pain for Washington. They compare the situation to Iran's 1980-88 war with Iraq, drawing lessons that survival is victory. They also cite Trump's withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal and US attacks during diplomacy as evidence of America's untrustworthiness.

In contrast, President Masoud Pezeshkian and Iran's pragmatists believe Iran's economy and infrastructure have suffered too much to continue resisting. They argue that negotiating now, while Tehran can still claim strength, is the better option. The economic damage from the war, blocked fuel supplies, and US naval blockade may force Washington to soften its demands.

The pragmatists see an agreement not as surrender but as the end of a war in which Iran resisted superior military power. However, each new American attack makes this argument more difficult.