I was raised in an Armenian-American family.

[darcmoughty@infosec.exchange]

I was raised in an Armenian-American family. While Armenians are distinct from Iranians in many big ways, their proximity and the history of the region mean that there are a few cultural similarities. One of the similarities that might be lost on Westerners is how politeness, tact, and honor work in negotiations. It's compatible with Westerners, but works a bit differently (just watch how many YouTuber Westerners misunderstanding how the open-air markets work in Tehran or Yerevan, they think they're getting 'free stuff').

What we have done to Iran already has been... obscene. The behavior of an opponent who starts an attack 'ahead of the deadline', kills your messengers, and threatens to use their power in ways that blatantly violate the rules make it impossible to negotiate. An 'increasing show of strength/impossible situation' strategy might work in South America, Europe, or even Saudi Arabia, but it is fundamentally incompatible with how Persians negotiate.

I'm not sure if the USA is doing this out of ignorance or malice, but I'm guessing that Hegseth and Trump have chosen to ignore experienced staff on this matter in pursuit of their own objectives.