AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): The American media outlet MS Now, in a commentary by Nicholas Grossman titled "Trump's Credibility Problem Is Now America's Problem," wrote that Trump's threats, promises, and agreements are no longer acceptable at face value, and this situation has now entangled the United States.
The report stated that Trump has embroiled America in a conflict with Iran in which it is neither capable of securing significant concessions nor willing to retreat from what has been described as a "clear defeat." Even if an agreement is reached, it will likely not be in America's favor and may leave Iran in a stronger position than before.
The author emphasized that this situation is the result of Trump's own conduct; over the years, he has shown that he lacks credibility, and consequently, he has also undermined America's credibility. According to the report, credibility gives power to words, and without it, promises and threats lose their effectiveness.
It further stated that if the other side does not believe a promise will be fulfilled or a threat will be carried out, that promise or threat becomes ineffective. Even if Iran is ready to make concessions, it cannot be sure which concessions will satisfy Trump.
The report, drawing a comparison between domestic systems and international relations, wrote that within countries, contracts can be enforced through courts, but in the international arena, countries rely solely on "words, physical capability, and patterns of behavior." According to the author, Trump's behavior has convinced the world that he cannot be trusted and that "his word is worthless."
According to the report, this situation is particularly evident in U.S.-Iran relations. Trump has sought to force Iran into submission or concessions, especially on the nuclear issue, but at every stage, he has undermined America's credibility.
The report added that Trump has not presented consistent demands, speaking at various times about regime change, unconditional surrender, a complete halt to the nuclear program, restrictions on the missile program, a change of stance toward Israel, and an end to support for regional forces. Additionally, the U.S. withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear agreement known as the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) while Iran was complying with it is cited as another factor that has called Washington's credibility into question.
The report further stated that the United States bombed Iran's nuclear facilities in 2025, and Trump claimed Iran's nuclear program had been "completely destroyed," but a year later, he said Iran was on the verge of acquiring several nuclear weapons. The report described these two claims as "lies" and concluded that Iran cannot be sure that Trump's future decisions will be based on objective reality.
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