politics
February 16, 2026
The patience and the poker face: Iran’s wily diplomat set to face the US in nuclear talks
Abbas Araghchi is steeped in more than a decade of nuclear dealmaking with a book on the art of negotiations
TL;DR
- Abbas Araghchi, Iran's lead negotiator, has a deep understanding of negotiation tactics, detailed in his book 'The Power of Negotiation'.
- Iranian diplomacy is characterized by a 'market style' of continuous and tireless bargaining, requiring patience and persistence.
- Araghchi's style emphasizes inscrutability and controlling emotions, contrasting with Donald Trump's perceived confrontational approach to diplomacy.
- Potential concessions from Iran could include compromises on uranium enrichment and non-verifiable understandings, such as a non-aggression pact.
- Araghchi, a veteran of the Iran-Iraq war, maintains close ties with the IRGC and is seen as more technocratic and careful than his predecessor, Javad Zarif.
- Achieving a deal will likely require parallel irreversible steps from the US, such as the release of frozen Iranian assets.
- The bombing of Iran's nuclear sites may create scope for compromise on enrichment if the IAEA can return to inspect sites.
- Araghchi acknowledges that diplomats often face domestic criticism regardless of the outcome of negotiations.
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