Tensions between Iran and the United States continue to escalate despite repeated signals of flexibility and goodwill from Tehran, largely due to Washington’s inconsistent stance; analysts say that whenever Iran attempts to create a more conciliatory environment for dialogue, the administration of Donald Trump responds with tougher rhetoric, further complicating the situation. International Crisis Group Iran Project Director Ali Vaez told the BBC that the so-called “mixed messages” from Iran are not signs of strategic confusion, but rather a calculated response to what he describes as Trump’s erratic and inconsistent policies. According to him, while Iran has maintained a relatively coherent policy approach, repeated contradictory signals from Washington have hindered any meaningful progress. To illustrate this inconsistency, he pointed to the case of the Strait of Hormuz, noting that when Iran announced it had lifted its blockade there, it expected a positive response; instead, President Trump chose not to show flexibility and reaffirmed continued U.S. pressure, prompting Iranian military forces to reimpose the blockade shortly afterward. Vaez argues that each time Iran signals openness, Washington responds with increased pressure, forcing Tehran to revert to a more hardline position, making it clear that without policy consistency from Washington, a stable or constructive response from Tehran remains highly unlikely.
‘Washington gets hotter when Tehran softens a little’
