Analysis: For Iran, negotiations with the US may be an end in themselves
In an analysis for Ynet, Doron Hadar writes that understanding Iran-US talks post-midterm elections requires distinguishing between instrumental negotiation, aimed at a deal, and expressive negotiation, focused on the benefits of the process itself. Hadar argues that while Washington seeks progress on nuclear issues and the Strait of Hormuz, Tehran's maximalist demands may be a tool to buy time, wear down the opponent, and bolster its diplomatic standing. The analyst emphasizes that for Iran, simply sitting across from the world's most powerful nation is a diplomatic achievement, suggesting that the two sides may be participating in the same process while playing two different games.