In just a few days, Donald Trump appeared to change direction again. He escalated rhetorically, vowing to hit Iran “very hard” and threatening to seize Kharg Island, Iran’s main oil terminal. Then he reversed course in extremis.

Two days earlier, Israel had already acted on its own. Despite Washington’s public call for restraint, the Israeli army struck the southern suburbs of Beirut. In response, Iran launched dozens of missiles toward Israel, marking the first direct exchanges since the April truce. Afterward, Donald Trump urged both sides to stop “immediately”. To many observers, this sequence looked like another episode of improvisation and contradiction. However, the real story is different: what appears as chaos may actually be the collision between an old American method and a new regional reality.

Trump’s diplomacy toward Iran is not simply erratic. It is coercive and transactional. He uses pressure, threats, and limited military force as extensions of the negotiation process. When Tehran slows down, Washington strikes. When an agreement seems within reach, Washington holds back. Violence is not necessarily the objective. It becomes a signal. It says the longer you wait, the higher the price.

This is a very Trumpian form of diplomacy. It is not based on long institutional processes or quiet strategic patience. It is based on rhythm, pressure, and........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)