Dominance without legitimacy in a changing world: The decline of American power

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed in an Al Jazeera interview that messages have been exchanged with the United States during the ongoing conflict, but clarified that these do not constitute formal negotiations. Araghchi cited a deep lack of trust, rooted in Washington’s withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal, and noted that Iran has not had a single positive experience negotiating with the U.S. Messages continue to be routed through intermediaries. These communications are described as warnings and exchanges of position rather than genuine diplomacy. Iran has refused to engage with figures such as Jared Kushner and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, viewing them as untrustworthy in light of the collapse of earlier agreements. Araghchi is unambiguous: Iran has not […]