U.S.-Iran talks in Muscat and Rome have faltered due to shifting American demands, and Israeli machinations to derail an agreement. What are Iran’s choices? A decisive Iranian victory in a war with U.S. and Israel may be Tehran’s only path to permanent peace.
Muscat and Rome Talks
Tehran informed Omani mediators to seek postponement of talks scheduled for 3 May 2025 because Washington’s demands of Iran keep shifting; for example, “Trump envoy demands Iran eliminate nuclear programme in apparent U-turn: Steve Witkoff’s switch from saying low-level production could continue seen as example of chaotic US foreign policy”; “Rubio demands Iran ‘walk away’ from uranium enrichment, long-range missiles.” Iran informed the U.S. (via Oman) that Washington must stop introducing Israel’s demands. In response, Hegseth issued military threats against Iran, and Trump threatened buyers of Iranian petrochemicals (viz., China) with sanctions and tariffs.
Israel: The Snake in the Woodpile
Atlantic Council, a mouthpiece for Israel, wrote “Why Israel will resist any US-Iran nuclear deal” (note the use of “any”). Netanyahu demands the “Libya model” for Iran: in 2003, Qaddafi dismantled Libya’s nuclear program; in 2011, Libya was bombed without cause by the NATO defensive alliance, and Qaddafi was sodomized and murdered on TV. The Libya Model, if accepted by Iran, will definitely lead to war and transformation of Iran into a larger version of Libya: war-torn, chaotic, fragmented along ethno-linguistic and tribal lines, impoverished, millions of refugees, etc.
Any agreement struck between U.S. and Iran will be undermined by Israel: “Netanyahu: Bad Iran deal is ‘worse than no deal.” Iran complied with JCPOA (2015) but did not reap benefits: Israel and “its allies undermined the deal – former US president Barack Obama discouraged investment, and US lawmakers pressured banks not to engage with Iran.” In 2018, Netanyahu succeeded in convincing Trump to exit JCPOA.
It is pointless negotiating with U.S. because Israel and its allies in the U.S., UK, and EU will work to undermine the agreement and deny economic benefits to Iran.
Religious Fanaticism & U.S. Foreign Policy
AIPAC and American Jews are blamed in many quarters for the ardent pro-Zionism inherent to U.S. foreign policy. However, while AIPAC and other elements in the “Israel Lobby” are influential, 2% of the U.S. population cannot by itself shape foreign policy. The bulk of Israel’s U.S. support comes from Evangelicals, viz., Christian Zionists. Tens of millions of American ignoramuses believe that foreign policy derives from the Old Testament, a compilation of ancient Middle Eastern folklore and tribal laws.
It is ironic that the Islamic Republic of Iran, founded in 1979 on a wave of Islamic zeal, does not recognize the extent of the Christian nutballery shaping and driving U.S. foreign policy. The Iran-Iraq War and passage of time (46 years) have tempered minds in Iran; meanwhile, religious fanaticism has increased in the United States. Christian Zionists/Evangelicals dominate in U.S. Congress and the Executive Branch. Christian Zionists and Israelis have congruent objectives: destruction of Iran.
Iranian “Reformists” want to negotiate with U.S. but they do not appreciate that for Christian Zionists, only the destruction of Iran will suffice.
Israel’s Addiction to War
Israeli society is addicted to war. Since 7 October 2023, Israelis have conducted thousands of bombing campaigns against Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, killing and maiming tens of thousands of civilians. Israel has refused a long-term ceasefire with Hamas that would free every Israeli hostage in order that it can continue to starve, maim, and kill Palestinians. Israel has bombed Iran, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and Lebanon; broken its January 2025 ceasefire with Hamas; violated its November 2024 ceasefire with Hizballah over 1000 times; and bombed Syria 600 times since Assad was ousted.
Iran’s Choice: Endless Sanctions or Victory in War
Israelis do not seek peace with their neighbors. Israel seeks to dominate its neighbors. Tel Aviv will never accept peace with Iran—unless Israel is defeated in war. An addict will continue to feed his addiction until he (1) dies from his addiction; or (2) is forced into treatment. Israel wants war with Iran. Nothing less than war will satisfy Israel’s lust for blood.
Perhaps Tehran will decide to give Israel want it wants? In my essay, “How a war with Iran (for Israel) could crash the US economy,” I argue that:
While spiking oil prices and global economic turmoil would harm Iran’s allies and the Global South, Iran’s adversaries in the US, UK, Israel, and EU stand to lose the most. If Iran wages a smart economic war, even Evangelicals may start caring more about their grocery bills than hastening the reconstruction of the “Third Temple” and other end-times prophecies. —21 March 2025—
Perspectives 
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