Iran's leadership is increasingly adopting a hardline stance in negotiations with the United States, prioritizing military strength over diplomatic compromise. Senior officials, including chief nuclear negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, assert that Iran gains concessions through military might rather than dialogue. This perspective is echoed by Mohsen Rezaei, a former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), who indicated that Iran would resort to direct action to break naval blockades. The public discourse in Iran has shifted, with 'talks' often associated with conflict rather than progress. Over the years, negotiations with Western powers have been marked by cycles of stalemate and military confrontations, leading to a narrowed space between diplomacy and conflict. While some conservative lawmakers argue against any flexibility in negotiations, viewing them as a 'complete loss,' reformist media suggests structured diplomacy is necessary. Public sentiment remains mixed, with surveys indicating significant opposition to talks with the US, complicating the political landscape further. Overall, negotiations are framed as controlled confrontations rather than genuine compromises, reflecting deep-rooted tensions within Iran's political structure.