The Rushdie trial reminds us that one does not negotiate with Iran
The Iranians succeed by intimidation and violence while the West tries to avoid confrontation by negotiating with them. We know where that is headed. Opinion
Assessment
The piece uses the Rushdie case as a lens to argue that Western engagement with Iran is strategically futile. It frames Iranian power as rooted in coercion rather than diplomacy, suggesting that negotiation only emboldens aggressive behavior. The warning is clear: without a confrontational stance, the West will continue to lose ground. The implication for readers is that current policy approaches need fundamental rethinking.