Trump the Inscrutable: Deal or no Deal?
24th March 2026
Today Trump announced a moratorium on attacking Iran’s energy infrastructure while talks he described as “very good” are supposedly going on. Meanwhile, the Iranian leaders – although “leaders” is a fungible thing in Iran these days – say he’s full of it and that no such talks are occurring, much less “very good” ones.
So, what’s going on? If you expect a definitive answer here, you’re surely not going to get one. But I don’t think you’re going to get one anywhere right now. We’re all speculating, and I think that’s the point.
We do know that Trump likes to keep people guessing as he bobs and weaves and wheels and deals. We know he said what he needs from Iran is unconditional surrender. But we don’t know exactly what that means in a case where we don’t know who’s in charge or if any one person (or even small group of people) is in charge. We don’t even know if he really is negotiating, or with whom such talks might be, or exactly for what. Nor do we know, if the subject is indeed for unconditional surrender, if such talks are with someone or some group with the will to actually surrender or the ability to do so even if the will is there.
Clear as mud. And I believe that is Trump’s intent.
Indeed it is.