The well-connected Axios reporter Barak Ravid is hated in Iran – one news site on Thursday described him as a one-man psychological war operation against Tehran. The Trump team’s modus operandi often seems to be to “speak softly [to Axios] and carry a big stick”. Either way, Iran may claim it will not negotiate under duress – but that is precisely what it is being required to do. The 2015 nuclear agreement required a 15-year suspension, and for Iran to keep its uranium stockpile under 300kg enriched to a maximum of 3.67%. Trump’s difficulty in running with Iran’s offer is threefold.

Source: The Guardian February 19, 2026 18:33 UTC