Sina Toossi
@sinatoossi.bsky.social
senior fellow at the @CIPolicy.bsky.social | write a lot about Iran, US foreign policy, Middle East | bylines Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, the Guardian & elsewhere | check out my substack: sinabeyondborders.com
oh god. the army of lipfiller implantees destroying america
November 10, 2025 at 5:08 PM
oh god. the army of lipfiller implantees destroying america
Very true. And yet many still don't get it.
November 10, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Very true. And yet many still don't get it.
15/ Video of Trump's further remarks on Iran today: We have a very big meeting with them on Saturday. We’re dealing with them directly, not through surrogates. Maybe a deal will be made. It’ll be really great for Iran. We are meeting on Saturday at almost the highest level.
April 7, 2025 at 10:22 PM
15/ Video of Trump's further remarks on Iran today: We have a very big meeting with them on Saturday. We’re dealing with them directly, not through surrogates. Maybe a deal will be made. It’ll be really great for Iran. We are meeting on Saturday at almost the highest level.
14/ Something is clearly unfolding behind the scenes.
The key now is how Iran responds—though it’s unlikely they’ll confirm direct talks.
Whether this is a genuine diplomatic opening or just more brinkmanship will become clearer in the days ahead.
The key now is how Iran responds—though it’s unlikely they’ll confirm direct talks.
Whether this is a genuine diplomatic opening or just more brinkmanship will become clearer in the days ahead.
April 7, 2025 at 10:13 PM
14/ Something is clearly unfolding behind the scenes.
The key now is how Iran responds—though it’s unlikely they’ll confirm direct talks.
Whether this is a genuine diplomatic opening or just more brinkmanship will become clearer in the days ahead.
The key now is how Iran responds—though it’s unlikely they’ll confirm direct talks.
Whether this is a genuine diplomatic opening or just more brinkmanship will become clearer in the days ahead.
13/ But if Trump's goal is to verify that Iran's nuclear program remains peaceful, as some reports suggest, then a deal is still possible, and aligns with what Iranian officials have said they’re open to.
April 7, 2025 at 10:13 PM
13/ But if Trump's goal is to verify that Iran's nuclear program remains peaceful, as some reports suggest, then a deal is still possible, and aligns with what Iranian officials have said they’re open to.
12/ The real test is what Trump is actually demanding.
If it's the maximalist "Libya model" that neoconservatives around him want—full dismantlement of Iran’s nuclear program—then talks are doomed, and heightened conflict is inevitable.
If it's the maximalist "Libya model" that neoconservatives around him want—full dismantlement of Iran’s nuclear program—then talks are doomed, and heightened conflict is inevitable.
April 7, 2025 at 10:13 PM
12/ The real test is what Trump is actually demanding.
If it's the maximalist "Libya model" that neoconservatives around him want—full dismantlement of Iran’s nuclear program—then talks are doomed, and heightened conflict is inevitable.
If it's the maximalist "Libya model" that neoconservatives around him want—full dismantlement of Iran’s nuclear program—then talks are doomed, and heightened conflict is inevitable.
11/The shift in Trump's tone could be because he is preparing a high-stakes visit to Saudi Arabia, where he hopes to revive regional deals.
To do that, he'd benefit from calm in Gaza, a ceasefire in Yemen, and reduced tensions with Iran.
To do that, he'd benefit from calm in Gaza, a ceasefire in Yemen, and reduced tensions with Iran.
April 7, 2025 at 10:13 PM
11/The shift in Trump's tone could be because he is preparing a high-stakes visit to Saudi Arabia, where he hopes to revive regional deals.
To do that, he'd benefit from calm in Gaza, a ceasefire in Yemen, and reduced tensions with Iran.
To do that, he'd benefit from calm in Gaza, a ceasefire in Yemen, and reduced tensions with Iran.
10/ Netanyahu, on the other hand, looked less than thrilled.
He opened with flattery for Trump, even praising his trade war.
But in return, Trump spoke of negotiating with Tehran, ending the Gaza war & his friendship with Erdogan. Hardly music to Netanyahu’s ears.
He opened with flattery for Trump, even praising his trade war.
But in return, Trump spoke of negotiating with Tehran, ending the Gaza war & his friendship with Erdogan. Hardly music to Netanyahu’s ears.
April 7, 2025 at 10:13 PM
10/ Netanyahu, on the other hand, looked less than thrilled.
He opened with flattery for Trump, even praising his trade war.
But in return, Trump spoke of negotiating with Tehran, ending the Gaza war & his friendship with Erdogan. Hardly music to Netanyahu’s ears.
He opened with flattery for Trump, even praising his trade war.
But in return, Trump spoke of negotiating with Tehran, ending the Gaza war & his friendship with Erdogan. Hardly music to Netanyahu’s ears.
9/ Yet something was different in Trump’s tone today.
Amid weeks of threats & military buildup in the Middle East, he wasn't bombastic on Iran today.
He did warn that if talks fail, Iran will be in "great danger" but the emphasis was clearly on diplomacy.
Amid weeks of threats & military buildup in the Middle East, he wasn't bombastic on Iran today.
He did warn that if talks fail, Iran will be in "great danger" but the emphasis was clearly on diplomacy.
April 7, 2025 at 10:13 PM
9/ Yet something was different in Trump’s tone today.
Amid weeks of threats & military buildup in the Middle East, he wasn't bombastic on Iran today.
He did warn that if talks fail, Iran will be in "great danger" but the emphasis was clearly on diplomacy.
Amid weeks of threats & military buildup in the Middle East, he wasn't bombastic on Iran today.
He did warn that if talks fail, Iran will be in "great danger" but the emphasis was clearly on diplomacy.
8/ But Trump isn’t looking for quiet diplomacy.
He wants the world to see him closing the deal. He wants headlines, handshakes, and photo ops.
He wants to show that his "toughness" forced Iran to blink.
He wants the world to see him closing the deal. He wants headlines, handshakes, and photo ops.
He wants to show that his "toughness" forced Iran to blink.
April 7, 2025 at 10:13 PM
8/ But Trump isn’t looking for quiet diplomacy.
He wants the world to see him closing the deal. He wants headlines, handshakes, and photo ops.
He wants to show that his "toughness" forced Iran to blink.
He wants the world to see him closing the deal. He wants headlines, handshakes, and photo ops.
He wants to show that his "toughness" forced Iran to blink.
7/ For Iran’s leadership, especially its aging Supreme Leader, being seen as compromising with Trump could be a political nightmare if not done "right".
He can't afford to look weak to his base, especially after Trump tore up the previous deal & killed Soleimani.
He can't afford to look weak to his base, especially after Trump tore up the previous deal & killed Soleimani.
April 7, 2025 at 10:13 PM
7/ For Iran’s leadership, especially its aging Supreme Leader, being seen as compromising with Trump could be a political nightmare if not done "right".
He can't afford to look weak to his base, especially after Trump tore up the previous deal & killed Soleimani.
He can't afford to look weak to his base, especially after Trump tore up the previous deal & killed Soleimani.
6/ That same dynamic could be t play now but the political environment even more hostile that 2015.
In both countries, hardliners have spent decades fueling mistrust.
Many of them fear diplomacy not because it fails, but because it might succeed.
In both countries, hardliners have spent decades fueling mistrust.
Many of them fear diplomacy not because it fails, but because it might succeed.
April 7, 2025 at 10:12 PM
6/ That same dynamic could be t play now but the political environment even more hostile that 2015.
In both countries, hardliners have spent decades fueling mistrust.
Many of them fear diplomacy not because it fails, but because it might succeed.
In both countries, hardliners have spent decades fueling mistrust.
Many of them fear diplomacy not because it fails, but because it might succeed.
5/ Notably, back in 2012 and 2013, secret direct US-Iran talks in Oman quietly set the stage for the nuclear deal.
Those meetings succeeded because they were quiet, serious, and rooted in clarity: Iran wanted sanctions relief. The US wanted to prevent an Iranian bomb.
Those meetings succeeded because they were quiet, serious, and rooted in clarity: Iran wanted sanctions relief. The US wanted to prevent an Iranian bomb.
April 7, 2025 at 10:12 PM
5/ Notably, back in 2012 and 2013, secret direct US-Iran talks in Oman quietly set the stage for the nuclear deal.
Those meetings succeeded because they were quiet, serious, and rooted in clarity: Iran wanted sanctions relief. The US wanted to prevent an Iranian bomb.
Those meetings succeeded because they were quiet, serious, and rooted in clarity: Iran wanted sanctions relief. The US wanted to prevent an Iranian bomb.
4/ So is Trump jumping the gun & prematurely revealing quiet diplomacy that’s still in its early stages?
Or is he deliberately blurring the line between indirect messaging and actual negotiations to claim momentum and create pressure?
Or is he deliberately blurring the line between indirect messaging and actual negotiations to claim momentum and create pressure?
April 7, 2025 at 10:12 PM
4/ So is Trump jumping the gun & prematurely revealing quiet diplomacy that’s still in its early stages?
Or is he deliberately blurring the line between indirect messaging and actual negotiations to claim momentum and create pressure?
Or is he deliberately blurring the line between indirect messaging and actual negotiations to claim momentum and create pressure?
3/ And yet, Iran recently responded to a letter from Trump proposing negotiations.
Their reply? They’re open to indirect talks via Oman.
If those build goodwill, then direct talks could follow according to Iranian sources.
Their reply? They’re open to indirect talks via Oman.
If those build goodwill, then direct talks could follow according to Iranian sources.
April 7, 2025 at 10:12 PM
3/ And yet, Iran recently responded to a letter from Trump proposing negotiations.
Their reply? They’re open to indirect talks via Oman.
If those build goodwill, then direct talks could follow according to Iranian sources.
Their reply? They’re open to indirect talks via Oman.
If those build goodwill, then direct talks could follow according to Iranian sources.