U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff has reportedly raised his demands for a diplomatic solution to include the removal of all highly enriched uranium and the return of UN inspectors. These terms are being viewed in Tehran as a demand for unconditional surrender. Consequently, the Iranian government is bracing for a military strike, as the clerical leadership sees no middle ground between total compliance and a high-stakes war with the U.S. Navy.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei has called reports of contact with Witkoff “a lie,” reinforcing the image of a government that has completely abandoned diplomacy. The chief justice has echoed this sentiment, calling for a “comprehensive and regrettable response” to any aggression rather than a return to the negotiating table. The Iranian government is bracing for a strike that will determine the future of its missile and nuclear programs once and for all.
The economic fallout of this diplomatic stalemate is visible in the 60% inflation rate and the record fall of the stock market. For many Iranians, the choice is no longer between the regime and the West, but between survival and starvation. The government is bracing for a strike that will attempt to capitalize on this desperation, bringing the protesters back into the streets under the protection of U.S. airpower.