The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has expressed sharp dissatisfaction with President Donald Trump’s inconsistent approach to Iran, characterized by sudden shifts between diplomatic outreach and military strikes.
In a recent discussion, François Picard hosted Barbara Slavin, a Distinguished Fellow at the Stimson Center, to analyze the deteriorating US-Iran relationship. Slavin described the current situation as a volatile mix of military escalation, unclear diplomatic signals, and domestic political maneuvering.
Slavin argued that genuine diplomacy is currently absent from the equation. She pointed to recent indirect talks between Washington and Tehran, which were mediated by Qatar, as being too limited in scope and too fragile to yield any substantial agreements.
According to Slavin, both nations are engaging in what she termed “kabuki diplomacy.” This involves half-measures and superficial engagement designed primarily to position each side against appearing weak or compromising, rather than to achieve a genuine resolution.
Is this really flip-flopping or just negotiation tactics? Sometimes you need to bluff before you settle. Time will tell.
Indirect talks through Qatar have always been slow. I doubt we see a breakthrough soon. Just more stalling.
Trump’s unpredictability makes it hard for allies to plan. Saudis are right to be frustrated with the shifting winds.
Kabuki diplomacy is a perfect term. It looks like action but changes nothing. The real work never happens.