Iran’s Masterclass in Psychological Warfare: Turning Trump’s Own Tactics Against Him
In a move that has left many observers astounded, Iran appears to have discovered a critical vulnerability in former US President Donald Trump’s approach to international relations and is relentlessly exploiting it. According to insights from Slate columnist Ian Prasad Philbrick, Tehran’s leadership has adopted a sophisticated strategy: weaponising the very playbook that defined Trump’s “Art of the Deal” to keep him perpetually off-balance and searching for a way out of the ongoing conflict.
This strategy, described as simple, ruthless, and devastatingly effective, involves meticulously studying Trump’s ghost-written bestseller, mastering his well-known negotiating tactics, and then turning them back on him with surgical precision.
“You’re Fired”: A Calculated Taunt
The psychological warfare was brought into sharp relief on day 23 of the conflict. Ebrahim Zolfaghari, the spokesman for Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, delivered a pointed message directly to the camera, with the Iranian flag prominently displayed behind him. His words were a direct echo of Trump’s signature catchphrase from his reality television show, The Apprentice.
“Trump, you are fired,” Zolfaghari declared. He then added, with a clear mocking tone, “Thank you for your attention to this matter,” a phrase that Trump himself frequently used to conclude his own pronouncements.
The Art of the Deal, Iran Style
This was far from a random act of mockery. Historian Ali Ansari of the University of St Andrews has noted that the Persian translation of Trump’s 1987 book, The Art of the Deal, has garnered a significant and devoted following within the Islamic Republic. It’s evident that Iran’s leadership has not only read the book but has studied its contents diligently, extracting valuable lessons for their own strategic advantage.
A Digital Campaign of Deception and Derision
The psychological warfare extends well beyond verbal insults. Iran has effectively borrowed and adapted Trump’s entire online playbook. Iranian embassy X (formerly Twitter) accounts have been observed posting cartoons that ridicule his negotiating positions, likening him to a bumbling cartoon bulldog. They have also made references to sensitive and controversial topics, such as the Epstein files, in an attempt to undermine his credibility. Furthermore, state media has been airing AI-generated propaganda videos that depict Iranian victories, a tactic that mirrors the White House’s own use of TikTok-style hype reels, often compiled from movie and video game footage.
Maximalist Demands as a Negotiating Stunt
When Trump put forward a 15-point ceasefire proposal, which included demands for limits on uranium enrichment, restrictions on missile development, and guaranteed access through the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s response was equally maximalist. Tehran countered with its own set of stringent demands, including war reparations, full control of the strait, and an immediate end to alleged US-Israeli strikes on Iranian leaders. These are positions that Tehran likely understands Trump would be unwilling or unable to accept, serving as a deliberate tactic to stall negotiations and expose his perceived weaknesses.
Exposing the Core Vulnerability: The Desperation to Declare Victory
This entire gambit is designed to expose what is arguably Trump’s core weakness: his deep-seated desperation to declare victory and extricate himself from situations that appear to be spiralling beyond his control. Trump himself acknowledged this in his book, warning that “The worst thing you can possibly do in a deal is seem desperate to make it.”
Iran appears to understand this principle intimately. When Trump boasted that the war was progressing “ahead of schedule” and claimed that Iran was “begging to make a deal,” Tehran responded with calculated defiance. They publicly announced that they “will not allow Trump to determine the timing of the war’s end,” directly countering his narrative and undermining his perceived control over the situation.
A seemingly bewildered Trump took to Truth Social to express his frustration, stating, “The Iranian negotiators are very different and ‘strange.'”
The Reality on the Ground vs. The Psychological Battlefield
While Iran’s psychological strategy appears to be highly effective in the realm of public perception and negotiation tactics, the battlefield realities for the country remain grim. The prolonged conflict has significantly depleted its missile reserves, decimated a substantial portion of its navy, and resulted in the deaths of several high-ranking leaders. It’s possible that the remaining Iranian leadership is engaging in a high-stakes bluff, projecting an image of strength while privately seeking a peaceful resolution.
However, for the moment, Iran’s psychological warfare campaign is undeniably working. The president who literally wrote the book on deal-making is being outmaneuvered by an adversary that has, in essence, simply read it and applied its lessons with remarkable efficacy, as Philbrick has observed. This sophisticated application of Trump’s own methodology presents a unique and challenging dilemma for his future diplomatic and political endeavours.
