Iran adds psychologists to advisory team for US talks

Iran enlisted senior psychologists to advise its negotiating team during indirect talks with the United States, aiming to better understand and navigate President Donald Trump's behavior, according to Iranian officials. The move was part of diplomatic efforts that have led to a preliminary agreement to end the war that began with joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28.

Officials said two senior psychologists were added to the Iranian advisory circle following the first round of talks in Islamabad in April. Their role was to assess Trump's behavior and help shape written and mediated messages sent through regional intermediaries. An Iranian official stated that the psychologists were brought in to help design messages that would be more effective in dealing with what Tehran considered an unusual communication style, describing the effort as managing a "psychopathic behavior pattern." The official claimed Trump's reactions became more constructive after these recommendations were incorporated into Iran's messaging strategy.

This unusual diplomatic tactic emerged as the two sides announced a preliminary Memorandum of Understanding aimed at ending the conflict. The...