Iran Holds Advantage in Negotiations with US, Says Gen. Wesley Clark

Retired General Outlines Iran's Strategic Preparation and Negotiating Leverage

Apr. 12, 2026 at 9:06am

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A vibrant, abstract painting depicting the launch of a missile, with overlapping geometric shapes and waves of fiery red, orange, and yellow colors conveying the power and speed of Iran's missile capabilities.Iran's strategic missile program has emerged as a key bargaining chip in the high-stakes negotiations with the United States.Washington Today

Retired U.S. Army General Wesley Clark argues that Iran has significant advantages over the United States in the ongoing negotiations to end the six-week war between the two countries. Clark says Iran has studied U.S. tactics for years and prepared itself strategically to deal with an inevitable conflict, developing advanced missile capabilities and a distributed command structure that have allowed it to withstand the initial U.S. air campaign. As the negotiations continue, Clark warns that Iran's opposing goals, including the withdrawal of U.S. forces from the region, will make it difficult for American negotiators to achieve their objectives.

Why it matters

The outcome of these negotiations will have major geopolitical and economic implications. If Iran emerges with significant concessions from the U.S., it could cement its regional dominance and disrupt the global balance of power. Failure to reach an agreement could also lead to a resumption of hostilities, with potentially devastating consequences.

The details

According to Clark, Iran has spent years studying U.S. tactics and capabilities, and has developed strategies to counter American strengths. This includes building up its missile arsenal, creating a distributed command structure, and preparing to wage a prolonged conflict on its own soil. Iran also recognized the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz and has built multilayered defenses to control the critical waterway. In contrast, the U.S. relied on familiar air power tactics that failed to achieve a decisive advantage quickly enough.

  • The war against Iran is now in its sixth week, with face-to-face negotiations taking place in Pakistan.
  • The shooting war is mostly paused, but the negotiations will determine the outcome of the conflict.

The players

Gen. Wesley Clark

A retired U.S. Army general and former NATO Supreme Allied commander in Europe, who is providing analysis on the negotiations between the U.S. and Iran.

Iran

The Middle Eastern country that has been engaged in a six-week war with the United States, and is now negotiating a ceasefire and potential peace agreement.

United States

The global superpower that initiated the military conflict with Iran and is now seeking to achieve its objectives through negotiations.

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What they’re saying

“Iran has studied U.S. tactics and capabilities for years, and has prepared itself to deal with a war it found inevitable and even desirable.”

— Gen. Wesley Clark, Retired U.S. Army General

“The United States, on the other hand, had studied and prepared targets against Iran for decades. When the war began, the Pentagon just applied its advanced technologies of stealth and "precision strike," which the Tehran regime had seen as early as the Persian Gulf War in 1991 and as recently as last June's 12-day war.”

— Gen. Wesley Clark, Retired U.S. Army General

What’s next

The ceasefire is currently set to last for two weeks, but the negotiations are expected to be extended as the two sides remain far apart on the complex issues. The U.S. will need to negotiate from a stronger position, potentially by aligning with allies, building public support, and preparing to resume military action if necessary.

The takeaway

This conflict highlights the importance of strategic foresight and preparation in modern warfare. While the U.S. has traditionally relied on its technological superiority, Iran's careful planning and development of asymmetric capabilities have allowed it to gain leverage in the negotiations. The outcome will have significant geopolitical and economic implications for the region and the global balance of power.