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Iran's Rulers Face Existential Choice

On August 17, 2025, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian urged hardliners to resume nuclear talks with the US, warning against returning to war.
This call followed a 12-day war in June marked by Israeli and US strikes that severely damaged Iran's nuclear and military capabilities, triggering diplomatic deadlock and sustained sanctions.
Iran faces compounded crises including socioeconomic strain, daily blackouts, a looming water emergency, internal unrest, intensified repression, and threats of renewed UN sanctions under the snapback mechanism.
The leaders of the United States and Israel have threatened to carry out additional attacks if Iran resumes uranium enrichment, while Iran insists on its right to pursue nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and promises to respond firmly.
Iran's leadership now balances between defiance and diplomacy amid deep elite divisions, with insiders seeing nuclear negotiations as vital for survival yet fearing hardline backlash and further military action.

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The Express Tribune

Center

Iran's rulers face existential choice

Weakened by war and diplomatic deadlock, Iran's clerical elite stands at a crossroads: defy pressure to halt its nuclear activity and risk further Israeli and US attack, or concede and risk a leadership fracture. For now, the Islamic Republic establishment is focusing on immediate survival over longer-term political strategy. A fragile ceasefire ended a 12-day war in June that began with Israeli air strikes, followed by US strikes on three Irani…

4 days ago·Pakistan

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