BBC: Trump uses bizarre negotiation tactic in Iran war

Here is the rewritten news content, structured as clean, professional English Markdown.

Trump Downplays Political Pressure Amid Renewed US-Iran Strikes

Washington, D.C. — Donald Trump is attempting to project calm regarding the ongoing conflict with Iran, insisting he feels no political pressure to accelerate peace negotiations, according to experts.

The United States launched overnight strikes on a military site in Bandar Abbas, Iran. In response, Iran claims to have struck a US air base. These fresh attacks threaten to undermine the fragile ceasefire between the two warring nations.

This marks the second time in three days that the US has conducted such strikes. While the US maintains the actions were taken in self-defense, Iran has labeled them a "grave violation of the ceasefire" and vowed not to leave "any act of hostility unanswered."

Background of the Conflict

The war began in late February when Trump, in coordination with Israeli allies, bombed Iran. In retaliation, Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a major global shipping lane, causing a spike in oil prices worldwide.

The resulting economic impact has placed intense pressure on Trump from both international and domestic allies to find an off-ramp for the war. However, the president has publicly downplayed this strain, insisting it is Iran that needs to make a deal.

Trump’s Stance

During a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Trump insisted Iran is "negotiating on fumes." He also stated that the upcoming November midterms would not influence his negotiation strategy, adding, "Maybe we have to go back and finish it, maybe we don’t."

According to BBC North America editor Sarah Smith, speaking on Radio 4’s Today program, "He wanted to stress that he doesn’t feel under political pressure to hurry this up."

Smith elaborated on Trump’s perception of Iran’s strategy:

"He obviously thinks that Iran thinks they can run out the clock here, that Donald Trump has less time than they do to get to a position where the Strait of Hormuz can be reopened, because they think it’s putting so much political pressure on the president. He was keen to say that’s not the case, and he will take as long as he needs to get the deal he wants."

She added that the US is making it clear they are not restrained from striking Iranian facilities they deem a threat.

Expert Analysis

Kirsten Fontenrose, senior director for the Gulf at the National Security Council during Trump’s first administration, described the current situation as "sabre-rattling with a little bit of active fire."

"Both sides are trying to stay to lines they think will prevent super-escalation," Fontenrose told the Today program.

She assessed that negotiations are currently "stuck," noting deep divisions on both sides of the table.

"There seems to be as many differences about how this war should end within Iran and the US as there are between Iran and the US," Fontenrose said.

She outlined the internal conflicts:

• In Tehran: The regime is divided into multiple factions. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) opposes any concessions or talks with the US, while diplomats, the president, and vice-president argue that making concessions could save the regime.
• In Washington: The US administration is split, with some advocating for no deal and a resumption of military strikes, while others favor a "slow, sustained squeeze" via the blockade to strangle the regime.

"The debates that are going on on either side of the negotiating table are just as intense as the talks that are going on between the two sides," Fontenrose concluded. "It does not look like a deal is close."