Analyst says Trump giving false impression of control in Iran talks

A foreign policy analyst has challenged US President Donald Trump’s portrayal of "control" over the Iran crisis, warning that escalation risks backfiring on the US.

Trita Parsi, executive vice president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, said Trump’s messaging seeks to shape perceptions rather than reflect reality.

In a post on X, he said the president is attempting “to give the impression that he is in control and that only he dictates the direction of the situation”.

“None of that is entirely true, but understandable that he wants to give that impression,” Parsi wrote.

He added: “Once again, Trump has realised that escalation will end up badly for the US. That does not necessarily mean, though, that the necessary realism, discipline, and creativity will be mustered for the talks.”