The ability of the Iranian regime to “take pressure and absorb pain” is often underestimated, according to a top UK diplomat, who has extensive experience of negotiating with Tehran.
The current British ambassador to Washington Sir Christian Turner made his comments ahead of possible talks in the Pakistani capital Islamabad between the US and Iran as a ceasefire deadline loomed.
But as the clock ticked down on the end of the fragile truce, the discussions remained in doubt amid the ongoing stand-off in the Strait of Hormuz, which continues to cripple international shipping.
The effective closure of the vital supply route during the conflict has inflicted a global economic shock and sent energy prices soaring.
Speaking at a recent Atlantic Council think tank event in Washington DC, Sir Christian, who speaks Farsi, the official language of Iran, said: “Having negotiated with the Iranians and lived in Islamabad, these are on all sides, people that I know well.”
He also said he had been impressed at the amount achieved at previous talks held between the US and Iran, but which ultimately collapsed over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.
Asked about the challenges faced in such negotiations, Sir Christian said there was the issue of trust, which took time to build, while the other he identified was the mentality of “martyrdom” or “victimhood” rooted in Iranian culture.
He added: “The Iranian regime, which is under a lot of pressure, fragmented leadership, its ability to take pressure and absorb pain is often much higher than we predict or anticipate, and I think that’s a very important judgment as we move into the next round of these vital discussions.”
He went on: “But just as I can observe that of the Iranians, those who underestimate this (US) administration’s willingness and resolve to see action through I think also might feel they’re mistaken, so let’s see how that plays out.”
