Despite myriad statements by President Trump indicating progress in peace talks with Iran, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says no progress has been made on a deal to date. Trump has taken the American public on a pendulum ride of sorts, first threatening to destroy Iran completely if a deal isn’t reach by his latest deadline, only to postpone the destruction at the last minute, claiming a breakthrough in negotiations that is expected to imminently lead to an agreement.

Then, no agreement comes, and the cycle starts over.

The truth is there have been no significant breakthroughs in negotiations since the war began February 28. The core U.S. demands have not changed; neither have the core Iranian demands.

The U.S. demands Iran cease nuclear enrichment entirely, even though enrichment is named an inalienable right under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT); Iran refuses to cease enrichment.

The U.S. demands Iran dismantle its missile capabilities; Iran refuses to do so.

The U.S. demands Iran ceases to support its proxies in Lebanon, Palestine, and Yemen; Iran refuses, considering them “allies” rather than “proxies.”

The U.S. demands Iran relinquish all control over the Strait of Hormuz; Iran refuses and maintains it will continue to collect tolls in lieu of reparations for damage done by the war if it does not receive direct payment from the U.S. and Israel (i.e., “the U.S.”).

It’s really a stretch to even call what is going on between the two countries “negotiations.” Iran has refused to engage the U.S. directly after Trump imposed a blockade the day after a tenuous ceasefire. Instead, the U.S. sends emails to Pakistan, which is acting as intermediary. Pakistan forwards those emails to Iran.

Iran responds to those it feels it needs to. This is not the behavior of a defeated nation whose leadership is in disarray. It is the behavior of a nation on the verge of winning a war.