Edward Luttwak is 💯 right.

We can’t be mirror imaging and believe those we’re negotiating with think like us.

In “Twelver” Shia Islam, although there is no single established term called “end times epistemology”, Shia tradition does handle knowledge of eschatological events.

If our political negotiators are confused by the above or think because someone is wearing a suit isn’t a true believer, think again. And they better understand the concepts of “ghaybah” and “zuhur” and what the concept of the twelfth Imam (Muhammad al-Mahdi) is all about.

Some political or quasi-political negotiators tend to go into these type negotiations believing they’re dealing with businessmen interested in money or some other type of resource, when in fact the underlying belief has nothing to do with either of those.

The truly hard core fanatics, some who remain in leadership positions inside of Iran, want to fight an end times war to advance the return of the Mahdi.

Trust that.