The U.S. and Iran are basically making the same accusation from opposite sides: each says the other breaks promises, uses talks as cover, and cannot be relied on to follow through. That mutual distrust is real, and it is a big reason negotiations keep collapsing.

Why the U.S. says Iran can’t be trusted

Washington’s case is usually based on a few recurring points:

  • Iran has long backed groups and actions the U.S. sees as hostile.
  • U.S. officials say Iran has used talks to buy time while advancing its leverage.
  • The current war and failed talks have reinforced the argument that Iran is acting in bad faith.

Why Iran says the same about the U.S.

Tehran’s argument is just as straightforward:

  • It says the U.S. has a record of pressure, threats, and shifting demands.
  • Iranian officials point to collapsed talks and later strikes as proof that Washington does not honor commitments.
  • Iranian leaders argue that U.S. statements about negotiations can be a cover for military or political goals.

The core issue

This is less about one side being “honest” and the other being “liars,” and more about a classic trust trap. Each side reads the other’s security moves as evidence of bad intentions, then uses that distrust to justify harder policies of its own.

Simple way to think about it

A plain-English version would be:

  • The U.S. says, “We can’t trust Iran because it keeps acting aggressively and unpredictably.”
  • Iran says, “We can’t trust the U.S. because it makes demands, changes the rules, and can abandon agreements.”

So the answer is: both sides are saying the same thing because neither believes the other will keep its word, and history keeps giving each side examples to point to.

TL;DR

Mutual distrust between the U.S. and Iran is the whole story. Each government uses the other’s past actions to argue that talks, deals, and assurances are not dependable.