Last week, Iran marked the anniversary of the seizure of the US Embassy in Tehran in November 1979. Dozens of American diplomats were held hostage for months by an incited mob that was assigned the task by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Only after the administration of US President Jimmy Carter conceded to most of the demands set forth by the Iranians, the hostages were released.
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The crisis provided an important lesson for the fledgling Iranian regime, whereby the Americans only understand force, and that faced with pressure and threats they will quickly fold. More than 30 years have passed since then and the Iranians are still convinced – apparently more than ever – that force is the only language the Americans understand. Civilized countries would try downplaying and relegating to history the siege of a foreign embassy in their capital, as it is a gross violation of the basic codes of international conduct. Iran, however, is proudly boastful of this dark chapter in its history.
This year's celebrations highlighted another Iranian success in their longstanding struggle against the United States. Tehran has decided to re-enter nuclear talks with Washington and other world powers, aimed at securing an improved deal that will include the lifting of crippling American sanctions, and maybe even an iron-clad American commitment not to withdraw from the deal again – as former US President Donald Trump did in 2018. In return, Tehran is willing to commit to slowing its dash to a nuclear weapon.
The Americans have sought such a deal from the moment Biden stepped into office, and in April renewed indirect talks with the Iranians on the matter. But the Iranians adhered to their strategy of applying pressure and creating crises as a means to achieve their end, and following the June election of the "Butcher of Tehran," Ebrahim Raisi, as president, they stopped the negotiations.
In the time that has passed, Iran has accelerated nuclear progress. Hence, for example, while it announced its willingness to return to talks with the US, Tehran also announced it had quadrupled its enriched uranium stockpile – necessary for making a nuclear weapon. The Iranians also intensified their efforts to push Washington out of the Middle East and establish their presence in Syria, Iraq and Yemen. These confrontational and antagonistic acts, which culminated in a missile attack on an American base by the Iranians and their proxies some two weeks ago, not only didn't trigger an American military response, it did just the opposite – it only increased Washington's desire and appetite for a quick nuclear deal at any cost. It is no surprise that the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Maj. Gen. Hossein Salami, rushed to declare that the US was weak and could no longer defend Israel.
It's possible the only thing Iran wants is to buy time and wage futile negotiations, allowing it to continue its race toward a bomb under convenient conditions, sans US pressure. However, it could also be that the Iranians will eventually be placated enough to sign a new deal – which only serves to benefit them. After all, such a deal will be insufficient to truly stop Iran's march to a bomb, which has apparently crossed the point of no return, rather only delay the public declaration of its fruition. And in the meantime, Iran will receive international recognition and legitimacy.
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