"They Don't Think Like We Think"
In a April 17, 2026 "Beyond the Ideological" Substack post, "The IRGC's Eschatological
Gamble and the Arab World's Verdict," Zineb Riboua explains some important realities about how the Iranian regime's leadership – clerical and Revolutionary Guards – or what's left of them think about the world and their role in it.
As U.S. negotiators head back to talks in Islamabad, Pakistan to engage yet again with their Iranian counterparts in what are likely the waning hours of a ceasefire agreement, it’s critical they understand that those sitting across the table (or the hallway?) from them don't think as we do.
From the time of the 1979 Khomeini revolution in Iran, that regime has ruled according to an eschatological mindset distinctly different from the way most of the rest of the world thinks.
Iran's clerical establishment, first led by self-appointed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and from 1989-2026 by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, is suffused in beliefs oriented on Shi'ite Islam and the Twelfth Imam, whom they hold to be Islam's messianic figure, the Mahdi.
In hiding or "occultation" since his disappearance in the 9th century, the Twelfth Imam is expected by them to return at the End of Times to usher in the Day of Judgment that is supposed to result in the slaughter or conversion to Islam of any remaining Christians and Jews and the triumph of Islam over the entire world.
The twist we must understand is that these Iranian regime "Twelvers" think they can hasten the return of the 12th Imam by literally instigating Armageddon on earth . . . as they drive for a deliverable nuclear weapon to make that happen.
This is why refusal to give up that quest is absolute for them, no matter what they may agree to or sign in talks with U.S. negotiators.
This is, after all, a regime that has violated every agreement it’s ever signed, from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
Of course, as they would see it, Islamic Law (shariah) obligates faithful Muslims to lie to infidels when the objective to be achieved (jihad and destruction of the Jewish State of Israel) likewise is obligatory.
Clearly, this is a regime that must not be allowed to survive in any form whatsoever.
Importantly as well, we must understand that the people of Iran are not identifiable with these regime Twelvers and their nihilistic eschatological beliefs, but rather have risen up in protest against them time and time again over the last 47 years, only to be repeatedly crushed — most recently with the slaughter of as many as 50,000 or more Iranian civilian protesters in January 2026.
Prolonging engagement with any remnants of this regime means prolonging the 47 years of suffering the Iranian people already have endured.
As Harold Rhode and Dan Diker wrote in their April 19, 2026 piece, "The Iranian Regime’s Deceptive Negotiation Strategy: No Surprises," these Iranians are past masters of deception and are especially adept at stringing along their Western interlocutors in long, drawn-out negotiations (which they see as evidence of our submission already).
It may be pointed out that the U.S. too may have reason to buy time to complete force 2 preparations for a return to kinetic operations as threatened by President Trump — but if so, such talks must not be allowed to drag on indefinitely as remnants of the Iranian regime seek to recover and regroup.
As we've seen, the Iranian side did not show up in Islamabad for additional talks, claiming that the U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz must be ended before Iran will even agree to more talks.
Further, the Iranian regime flatly refuses to discuss its nuclear weapons program.
Meanwhile, there are indications emerging that the Iranian regime is splintering within.
The Islamabad negotiators led by Foreign Minister Amir Abbas Araghchi and Majles (parliament) Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf are obviously not entirely in sync with the IRGC commanders — Ahmad Vahidi, Mohsen Reza’i, and Supreme National Security Council head Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, and others — who actually run the regime today.
Mideast expert David Wurmser recently colorfully described what is happening inside that regime as "a dance of the cobras," likening these survivors to "mafia dons" circling the empty chair of the Supreme Leader, warily watching who will be the first to make a move the others can unite against.
Understanding and exacerbating such splits, if they do exist, should be part of the U.S. negotiating posture.
Our hopes remain with the Trump administration and envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff that, given their experiences dealing with these Iranian true believers over the last months, none will be deceived by their false postures of politeness and cooperation.
Understand that this Iranian regime’s own hopes for the fulfillment of their eschatological worldview cannot happen without a deliverable nuclear weapons program and the destruction of the Jewish State of Israel.
Even the loss of its regional proxies — Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis — is not viewed as devastating to prospects for Armageddon and return of the 12th Imam as relinquishing its nuclear weapons program and the ballistic missile delivery system it relies on would be.
Clare M. Lopez is the Founder/President of Lopez Liberty, and is a Newsmax blog site contributor. Read more Clare M. Lopez Insider articles — Click Here Now.
© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.