An opinion article argues that the Islamic Republic of Iran came to power through deception, pointing to promises made by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini to President Jimmy Carter that were never meant to be honored. In that telling, mistrust is not a recent development but a defining feature of the regime from its earliest days.
The piece says that history matters now because the current U.S. approach under President Donald Trump is presented as a clear break from the past. Rather than treating Iranian assurances as credible, the article contends that Washington is responding from a position of deeper skepticism about the regime's intentions.
It also describes the present moment as one of the most serious tests the Iranian system has faced in decades. The core argument is that long-standing duplicity has finally met an American administration unwilling to accept it at face value, creating a sharper confrontation than earlier periods of engagement.
More broadly, the opinion reflects a larger political debate over how the United States should deal with Tehran. Supporters of a tougher line see Iran's record as proof that pressure and distrust are justified, while critics of that view often question whether confrontation can produce lasting results.
