Trump's Iran Talks Risk Eroding U.S. Leverage as Tehran Demands Payoff
Elliott Abrams argues in a CFR analysis that Trump's rush for a quick deal with Iran has left Washington with weak bargaining leverage, emboldening Tehran to demand terms that could monetize the Strait of Hormuz and reassert regional dominance; with threats followed by inaction, the administration risks abandoning Gulf allies and undermining long-term commitments, turning diplomacy into an exit strategy rather than a path to security.