A former four-star U.S. Army general says Iran is declining peace due to confidence in its ability to reconstruct any nuked nuclear program—extending its strategy of “no war, no peace.”
At a Glance
- Iran rejects Trump’s two-week negotiation window
- Tehran believes it can quickly rebuild nuclear infrastructure
- Its “no war, no peace” doctrine remains intact
- U.S. and Israeli strikes have so far failed to shift Iran’s position
- The U.S. military remains on high alert as tensions rise
Why Iran Won’t Yield
Retired Gen. Jack Keane, former Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, told ABD Post that Iran isn’t rushing into a peace deal because Tehran believes it can restore its nuclear capabilities even if key sites are hit. That resolve reflects the regime’s long-term vision: surviving airstrikes, rebuilding infrastructure, and emerging politically intact—a pattern consistent with its entrenched “no war, no peace” policy.
Iran has officially rejected the two-week window President Trump proposed for negotiations, insisting talks cannot proceed while under attack—and demanding Israeli strikes stop first. Tehran appears determined to endure immediate pressure and avoid appearing weak.
From Strategy to Stalemate
The doctrine promoted by Supreme Leader Khamenei aims to avoid total war while using proxy forces and a resilient nuclear program to maintain leverage. Yet recent Israeli airstrikes have degraded key nuclear and military sites, prompting Iranian missile strikes on civilian targets, including hospitals and apartment buildings—escalating civilian casualties and drawing international alarm.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that the conflict could spiral into a full regional war and urged both sides to “give peace a chance.”
What Could Shift Tehran’s Position
Gen. Keane argues that unless Iran faces overwhelming, possibly U.S.-backed military pressure, Tehran has no incentive to negotiate. The current strikes—while significant—have not altered Iran’s strategic calculus.
Key factors that could force a shift include:
- Massive, sustained strikes targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure
- Coordinated diplomatic pressure, particularly if Europe intensifies sanctions
- Domestic instability driven by economic collapse or popular unrest
Without such pressures, Iran seems willing to absorb limited damage, rebuild, and wait out U.S. and Israeli resolve.
A Dangerous Waiting Game
Iran’s confidence in its ability to reconstruct its nuclear program, combined with the regime’s ideological rigidity, suggests a prolonged standoff. Without decisive action, Tehran may continue to bet on its capacity to survive and rebuild.
Whether U.S. diplomacy and military pressure can break this stalemate—or whether both sides drift into deeper conflict—will define the next phase of this escalating crisis.
