Former U.S. Ambassador to Syria and White House advisor Mark Ginsburg, in an interview with Al Jazeera, stated that Trump's decisions are primarily driven by domestic political pressure and the midterm elections, rather than by long-term strategy. "Ultimately, Donald Trump will do what he has to do to preserve his political life before the midterm elections and address his declining domestic approval ratings," Ginsburg said. He pointed out that Tehran is well-informed about the internal political dynamics in Washington and is prepared for a protracted struggle. The Iranians are watching the U.S. polls closely; this regime will hold on until the last Iranian falls. They intend to cling to power, no matter how much suffering the people endure. Despite growing public "disgust" with the status quo, Trump faces a dilemma; he cannot afford the cost of admitting defeat. But Tehran is betting on a familiar script. The Iranians are essentially manipulating Trump, and also manipulating the U.S. Iran's assessment is that the U.S. will eventually "abandon all demands," and in the end, Iran will still receive sanctions relief.
