Iran thinks Trump is bluffing, even as it braces for another round of punishing U.S. airstrikes

HERE WE GO AGAIN: It’s becoming a well-established pattern. President Donald Trump grows frustrated with Iran’s refusal to capitulate to all of his demands and issues an apocalyptic threat — “a whole civilization will die,” you’ll be looking “at one big glow coming out of Iran,” and his latest “The Clock is Ticking, and they better get moving, FAST, or there won’t be anything left of them” — only to back off claiming there is significant progress toward an acceptable deal.

So far, Trump has been left frustrated and disappointed to find that, despite his belief that a deal was close, the Iranians, emboldened by their stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz and led by fanatical leaders, have no intention of surrendering.