U.S. so-called "negotiators" are incompetent liars.

[pat_k]

While I would not normally give much credit to statements from the Iranian regime, knowing who they are dealing with, and under whose orders the trumpublican worms are operating, I think we can bet the statements are spot on.

Time, 4/16
https://time.com/article/2026/04/15/diplomats-fear-trump-iran-envoys-kushner-witkoff-nuclear/

They are clueless on the basics

According to UK-based outlet Amwaj, citing unnamed Iranian sources, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi explained the stages of nuclear fuel production and the difference between an enrichment facility and a reactor to Witkoff on several occasions during the negotiation in Muscat.

4/20, Deccan Herald (India, but generally considered reputable)

https://www.deccanherald.com/world/middle-east/endless-hypocritical-rhetoric-iranian-president-pezeshkian-slams-us-lists-negotiation-obstacles-newsalert-3977716

Even as US President Donald Trump extended the ceasefire with Iran hoping for a peace proposal, his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian has said that threats, blockades and breach of commitments will hinder genuine negotiations. In a post on X Wednesday, he also lashed out without naming the US President for his "hypocritical rhetoric" and contradictory claims and actions.

5/1 @dropsitenews
Iranian official are seriously questioning the competence of the U.S. negotiating team, with officials describing U.S. narratives as a "pyramid of lies." Iranian officials view Steve Witkoff as a "total ignoramus" on the issues. They've called for the U.S. to send "actual technical experts" rather than what they termed "real estate golf buddies."

https://m.youtube.com/shorts/HjpdPPNZLVI

5/1, Iran International (London-based Persian-language news channel considered reliable by many viewers for bypassing state censorship.)

https://www.iranintl.com/en/202605011395

Iran’s foreign minister accused the Pentagon of misrepresenting war costs, saying US spending has reached $100 billion, far above official figures.

“The Pentagon is lying. Netanyahu's gamble has directly cost America $100b so far, four times what is claimed,” Abbas Araghchi wrote on X, adding that US households face about $500 in monthly costs and warning that indirect expenses are significantly higher.

CBS, 5/6
https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/iran-war-trump-progress-peace-deal-strait-of-hormuz/

After Iran's foreign ministry spokesman was quoted by the country's state-run media as saying the regime was in the process of reviewing the latest U.S. peace proposal, he issued a social media post saying any negotiations should be based on engagement, not "deception, extortion or coercion."

Related:
Said it before. Will say it again: There is NO WAY OUT with the Felon in the WH
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100221222535

[Irish_Dem]

1. Trump and his goons don't care about nuclear production one iota.

They are there to negotiate for Trump on a personal level.
Cash, land, oil.

[RockRaven]

2. This has been reported on (but not by the MSM of course) from the very beginning.

Early on as this war was kicking off, I recall hearing on "American Prestige" that one of the demands that Witkoff et al were making was the Iran completely shut down a particular reactor which is the sole source of medical isotopes in the country, and then were incredulous and offended by the refusal on those grounds -- and interpreted the refusal as a persistent intent to make weapons. Witkoff was demanding an entire nation of 90M people be deprived of modern nuclear medicine diagnostics and treatments in perpetuity -- which is insane and monstrous -- to avoid being attacked.

Witkoff and company are so ignorant of the subject matter in question that their placement as envoys/negotiators is frankly immoral. It is fucking morally wrong to empower such people thusly.

[pat_k]

3. "their placement as envoys/negotiators is frankly immoral"

Absolutely!!

No trumpublican has ANY place in a legitimate American government. And we need to push our electeds and candidates to commit to purge every last one of them.

See this post for the definition of trumpublican (my definition anyway) as distinct from "MAGA" or "Republican":

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100221221890

[maxsolomon]

4. I've seen some of this reported in the NYT

and they ran Op-Eds and Editorials calling Witkoff & Kushner out as incompetents.

That's the "MSM", but you have actually read the articles.

[republianmushroom]

5. Damn, you noticed, well keep it secret

[pat_k]

6. I probably should have added an "(obviously)"

Or started with a "Needless to say."

[yellow dahlia]

7. These people have no shame in their incompetence.

It took a team of nuclear experts and true diplomats to negotiate the JCPOA (Iran Nuclear Deal), that was torn up by the grifter.

These people are dangerous!

[pat_k]

8. There are people who have NO PLACE in a legitimate American government.

We must draw red lines. We must clearly define the intolerable attributes. And I think we need a label -- a shorthand -- for referring to people who have one or more of the intolerable attributes. I think the label must be narrower than "MAGA" or "Republican."

The label I use is trumpublicans. I define the intolerable attributes that define a trumpublican in this post.

However they do it, our electeds and candidates must effectively demonize and delegitimize and pledge to purge these intolerable people and forces from our government.

[Nasruddin]

9. Iranians are unfamiliar with Trumpian culture

It's a blizzard of lies, backed up by complete ignorance, in a solid foundation of mental incompetence.

They'll be lucky to overcome this overwhelming power!

[malaise]

10. Sadly we know this

Competence and truth are never associated with kakistocracies.
Rec

[pat_k]

11. Yes. As noted in another reply, I should have...

... added an " (obviously )" or prefaced with a "Needless to say."