Washington and Tehran Weigh Leverage Between Threats and Negotiations

US threats to resume strikes against Iran are coinciding with tighter economic pressure, as Washington combines the prospect of military action with efforts to increase the cost of Tehran’s position.

The parallel pressures frame a contest over leverage ahead of any future negotiations. Economic constraints and the threat of renewed strikes form part of the pressure facing Iran as it weighs its options.

Tehran, meanwhile, is seeking to preserve its military and regional bargaining tools. Maintaining those sources of leverage would help it enter any talks without relinquishing key assets beforehand.

The central tension is between pressure intended to shape negotiations and Iran’s determination to retain the means to resist it. Whether that contest leads to talks or further confrontation remains uncertain.