Psychologists Shaped Deal Talks? How Iran Used Them To Decode Trump's 'Erratic Behaviour'
Psychologists Shaped Deal Talks? How Iran Used Them To Decode Trump's 'Erratic Behaviour' Published By, Last Updated: June 16, 2026, 19:27 IST According to Iranian
Psychologists Shaped Deal Talks? How Iran Used Them To Decode Trump's 'Erratic Behaviour' Published By, Last Updated: June 16, 2026, 19:27 IST According to Iranian officials, the psychologists’ role was to assess Trump’s behaviour and help shape written and mediated messages sent through intermediaries. US President Donald Trump. (AFP file photo) Iran’s negotiating team reportedly brought in senior psychologists during indirect talks with the United States in an effort to better understand President Donald Trump and refine the way messages were prepared for him. According to a report by Drop Site News, the advisers were used to help craft communication strategies aimed at managing what Iranian officials described as “psychopathic behavior" during negotiations over an agreement to end the war. The report quoted an Iranian official who said two senior psychologists were added to the negotiating advisory circle after the first round of talks in Islamabad in April.
The official said their role was to assess Trump’s behaviour and help shape written and mediated messages sent through regional intermediaries. Advisory Role During Talks According to the official cited by Drop Site News, the psychologists were brought in to help Iranian negotiators design messages that would be more effective in dealing with what Tehran considered an unusual communication style from the US president. The advisers were said to focus on how best to present proposals in a way that would improve responses from the American side. The official also claimed that Trump’s reactions became more favourable after these inputs were included in Iran’s messaging strategy. “[Trump’s] reactions have improved noticeably since we began incorporating the recommendations of these advisers into our messages and written communications," the Iranian official told the news outlet. The same official added that the approach was also meant to ensure that the negotiation process would later reflect the “sophistication of each party’s negotiating techniques will be evident should these communications be made public in the years ahead".
Talks Move Towards Agreement The reported use of psychologists comes as Iran and the US announced a preliminary Memorandum of Understanding aimed at ending the war that began following US-Israeli strikes on Iran on 28 February. The agreement is expected to be signed in Geneva on June 19. Iran’s deputy foreign minister had said the country’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, will attend the signing ceremony. On the US side, Vice President JD Vance is expected to represent Washington, although Trump has said he may also attend. The deal was electronically signed on Sunday by Trump, Vance and Ghalibaf. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad.
The BriefWire