Trump Struggles to Define Victory After Failed Iran Negotiations

President Donald Trump's gamble to force Iran to the negotiating table through military pressure and economic sanctions has so far failed to yield a quick win, leaving the White House scrambling to redefine what success would look like as tensions escalate in the region.

Trump's maximum pressure campaign against Iran, which includes the killing of Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani and crippling sanctions, was intended to compel the Islamic Republic to make concessions on its nuclear program and regional influence. But Iran has resisted, continuing its regional activities and expanding its nuclear program in defiance of the administration's efforts.

The lack of a clear breakthrough has forced the White House to adjust its rhetoric, with officials now speaking more of deterring Iran from further provocations rather than achieving a sweeping realignment of the country's policies. This shift reflects the challenge Trump faces in claiming victory as Iran shows no signs of buckling under pressure.

"They're trying to redefine success," said Dalia Dassa Kaye, director of the Center for Middle East Public Policy at the RAND Corporation. "The administration has not been able to achieve the kind of comprehensive deal that they had hoped for."

The administration's efforts to force Iran to the table have been complicated by Iran's regional activities, which have continued despite the U.S. pressure campaign. Iran-backed militias in Iraq have carried out attacks on U.S. forces, while Iran has also been accused of involvement in the recent bombings of Saudi oil facilities.

At the same time, Iran has continued to expand its nuclear program, enriching uranium beyond the limits set by the 2015 nuclear deal that Trump abandoned. This has raised concerns that Tehran could be positioning itself to build a nuclear weapon, something Iran has denied.

The administration's efforts to bring Iran to heel have also been complicated by the shifting dynamics in the Middle East, where longtime U.S. allies like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have been pursuing their own diplomatic outreach to Iran in an effort to de-escalate tensions.

"The administration's policy of maximum pressure has not yielded the results they had hoped for," said Suzanne Maloney, an Iran expert at the Brookings Institution. "They're now in a position where they have to figure out how to manage the situation and what kind of off-ramp they can find."

The challenges facing the administration have fueled criticism from Democrats and some Republicans, who have argued that Trump's approach has been counterproductive and has increased the risk of conflict. They have called for the U.S. to pursue direct negotiations with Iran without preconditions.

But the White House has so far resisted such calls, insisting that Iran must first return to compliance with the nuclear deal before any talks can take place. This position has drawn skepticism from some experts, who argue that the administration's demands are unrealistic and that it needs to be more flexible in its approach.

As the administration grapples with the fallout from its Iran policy, Trump has sought to shift the focus to other priorities, such as his reelection campaign and the ongoing impeachment inquiry. But the Iran issue is likely to remain a major challenge for the White House in the months ahead, as it searches for a way to claim victory and avoid a wider conflict.