Russia and China also played roles in supporting Iran diplomatically while maintaining their own strategic interests.
However, no external mediator was able to bridge the widening gap between Washington and Tehran.
Conclusion: A Dispute Over Responsibility, Not Opportunity
The claim that Iran “had plenty of chances” to make a peace deal under Donald Trump reflects one interpretation of a deeply complex geopolitical reality. From that perspective, sanctions, diplomatic outreach, and escalating pressure created multiple openings that Tehran failed to seize.
Yet the opposing view argues that there was no stable or trustworthy negotiating environment after the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA, and that Iran’s decisions were shaped more by survival instincts and strategic uncertainty than by rejection of peace opportunities.
What is clear is that the relationship between the United States and Iran remains defined by cycles of negotiation and breakdown. Each missed opportunity, whether real or perceived, adds another layer of mistrust that future diplomats must confront.
Ultimately, the question is not simply whether Iran “blew” its chances, but whether the international system itself was able to sustain the conditions necessary for peace.
And on that question, history remains undecided.
