Retired Vice Admiral Robert Harward, a former deputy commander of US Central Command, says Iran is trying to buy time as negotiations with Washington continue. His assessment comes as the United States debates whether to increase military pressure or keep pursuing diplomacy.

According to the report, President Donald Trump has paused plans for a major strike on Iran while talks continue. The discussions are tied to tensions involving the Strait of Hormuz and Tehran, placing the White House between a forceful response and a negotiated path forward.

Harward’s view suggests that Iran may be using the negotiating process to delay major decisions and avoid immediate military consequences. That reading underscores a broader concern in Washington that prolonged talks can shift the balance on the ground even while diplomatic channels remain open.

The moment highlights the difficult calculation for US policymakers: pressing Iran hard enough to gain leverage without closing off negotiations altogether. With talks still underway, the central question is whether diplomacy can produce results before the standoff deepens further.