Trump's Tough Talk Toughens Iran’s Resolve

Wednesday, May 20, 2026, IstanbulAfter signaling that the US was again getting ready to resume its military operations against Iran, Trump again backed down.He said he was convinced to give diplomacy a chance for a few days, but the facts suggest he remains caught in a trap created by a combination of military and geographic reality and his own rhetoric.On today’s edition of badlands, I discuss how Trump’s tough talk strengthens Iranian hardliners and makes the deal he appears to want even harder to get. Trump, already threatened to annihilate Iran’s civilization, and Tehran refused to back down. More threats serve little purpose, except to empower the wrong people in Tehran. badlands is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit borzou.substack.com/subscribe