According to a report by Al Jazeera on May 22, 2026, Cato Institute senior fellow Doug Bandow said public perception remains a major issue in the ongoing mediated discussions between the United States and Iran, with both governments determined to avoid looking weak during negotiations.
Bandow explained that political optics are shaping the way both sides present their positions publicly, even if they may be more flexible behind closed doors. He noted that neither Washington nor Tehran wants to appear to have surrendered ground in the talks.
“Both sides do not want to appear to be giving in. They don’t want to appear to be ‘losers’, using the rhetoric of the president,” Bandow said.
He suggested that while leaders on both sides maintain firm public positions, private negotiations could involve meaningful compromises aimed at reducing tensions and reaching a workable agreement.
“In private, they might be willing to make some serious deals, but they also want public protection and don’t want the other side to kind of crow that they’ve been defeated. So publicly, they’re going to put on a very brave front,” he said.
Bandow added that successful diplomacy may depend not only on the substance of any agreement but also on how it is presented to domestic and international audiences. According to him, both governments are likely searching for ways to frame potential concessions as victories rather than defeats.
“My hope is that both sides in private are prepared to make concessions and then talk about how to best present it, so both sides can appear to be winners,” he added……See More
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