The US establishment wrongly believed that it could deal with Iran as with North Korea, using a carrot and stick.
Threatening diplomacy has never worked with the "Islamic Republic" since 1979 when the Shah fell and Imam Khomeini seized power. It is true that US pressure on Iran over the last months has plunged the country into a
monetary crisis with the local currency in a continuous free fall.
Nevertheless, the US threat has united the entire country for the first time since the death of Ruhollah Khomeini. The Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) - considered the leading hardliners - and the political elite - seen by the West as pragmatic moderates - are now in perfect harmony and are adopting the same aggressive posture towards Trump. Indeed, the US still has a lot to learn about the Persian empire and its unyielding approach to the new occupant of the White House.
Its leaders will not accept any meeting or negotiations without a US gesture of goodwill, and the restoration of the illegally and unilaterally
revoked Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and the lifting of all
sanctions.
At the same time, Iran is not closing all doors on the US. Following last week's exchange of threatening words between Iran and the US, Oman Foreign Minister Yusuf Bin Abdullah received the visit of Iran Foreign Minister Jawad Zareef. He travelled to Washington this week and met with US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and National Security Advisor John Bolton to discuss the Iranian crisis.
President Donald Trump has expressed his unconditional willingness to meet with his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani. Mahmoud Vaezi, Rouhani's chief of Staff,
revealed that Trump asked eight times to speak with the Iranian President, who rejected Trump's requests.
Comment: Some background on Senator Rand Paul.