Experts believe Trump's refusal indicates that, despite both sides continuing to publicly leave room for diplomacy, they remain far apart on who should make concessions first. Andreas Krieger, Associate Professor at King's College London, stated, "Trump's calculations seem quite straightforward. He believes that the combination of naval blockade and economic isolation has finally put enough pressure on Iran that Tehran's latest offer is evidence of weakness, not an opportunity Washington needs to seize." Krieger said Trump's public claim that Iran "lost badly" is significant because it suggests he believes time is improving America's negotiating position.
