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A senior Gulf Arab official, speaking to POLITICO on the condition of anonymity, has revealed that U.S. President Donald Trump’s goal of ending the ongoing conflict with Iran remains elusive, despite his professed desire to bring a swift resolution to the escalating tensions. According to the official, Trump’s efforts are being hindered by the Iranian government’s steadfast refusal to comply with his demands, which are seen as a necessary condition for the U.S. to save face and withdraw from the region.
The senior Gulf Arab official stated that the Trump administration has been engaged in a behind-the-scenes diplomatic push to find a solution to the conflict, which has brought the region to the brink of war on multiple occasions. However, the Iranians have been resistant to U.S. overtures, refusing to make significant concessions that would allow Trump to claim a diplomatic victory and withdraw American forces from the region.
The root of the problem lies in the issue of face-saving, according to the Gulf Arab official. “Trump does not seem to understand that the Iranians need to save face, too,” the official said. “They need to show that they have resisted American pressure and have not been forced into submission. Otherwise, they risk being seen as weak and vulnerable by their own people and the wider region.”
The official went on to explain that the Iranian government has been working to frame the conflict in terms of a clash between imperialism and anti-imperialism, with the U.S. representing the former and Iran representing the latter. This narrative has helped the Iranians build support among their allies in the region, as well as among anti-American groups globally.
In this context, any concessions made by Iran would be seen as a significant retreat, potentially undermining the government’s legitimacy within its own country and in the eyes of its regional allies. The Iranian government has thus chosen to dig in and wait out the Trump administration, betting that time is on their side and that the U.S. will eventually tire of the conflict or be forced to retreat by domestic or international pressures.
The stalemate has raised concerns among U.S. allies in the Gulf, who are bracing for the possibility of continued hostilities in the region. While the Trump administration has repeatedly emphasized its commitment to preventing an Iranian nuclear capability, the Gulf Arab official expressed skepticism about the likelihood of a swift resolution to the conflict.
“It seems that we’re stuck in a cycle of escalating tensions,” the official said. “Until there’s a significant shift in either the U.S. or Iranian positions, I’m not sure how we can get out of this situation.”