The harder the stance, the closer to negotiation? This is the most true/authentic logic of geopolitics.

Many people find it contradictory when they see the news: on one hand, they say they won’t talk, yet on the other hand, they are preparing to engage.
In fact, this is the norm in geopolitics.
Iran’s tough remarks are, in essence, about stabilizing internal sentiments and raising the stakes externally; while the U.S.’s toughness is meant to seize the initiative in negotiations.
In other words: both sides are “putting on a show” for each other.
The truly critical signals are not words, but actions—such as whether there really are representative contacts, whether signals of easing are being released, and whether military moves are being scaled back.
From historical experience, most conflicts go through three stages: escalation expectations → tense standoff → limited de-escalation. The current situation is clearly in the second stage.
So when judging the direction, don’t let your emotions run the show—look at actual actions.
— Summary: The tougher the talk, the closer the negotiations are to the critical turning point.
#美伊二轮谈判进展