As the dust settles on Israel’s war with Gaza, United States President Donald Trump has turned his attention to another longstanding Middle East flashpoint: relations with Iran.

Speaking to Israel’s Knesset on Monday, Trump — who earlier this year ordered air strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities during a 12-day war between Israel and Iran — extended what he called a “hand of friendship” to Tehran.

“We are ready when you are,” Trump said. “It would be the best decision Iran has ever made — and it’s going to happen.”

But despite the conciliatory tone, analysts say the Trump administration has shown little sign of easing its hard line, and that prospects for renewed diplomacy remain bleak.

Deep mistrust in Tehran

Trita Parsi, executive vice president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, said the U.S. and Israeli attacks in June — which coincided with ongoing nuclear negotiations — have undermined advocates of diplomacy inside Iran.

“There’s a perception that the U.S. is using diplomacy to lull Iran into a false sense of security,” Parsi told Al Jazeera.

Iran’s leaders have not ruled out talks, but they are proceeding cautiously. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a television interview on Saturday that Tehran would consider negotiations only if Washington presented a “reasonable, balanced, and fair proposal.”

Iran rejected an Egyptian invitation to attend Monday’s ceasefire summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, citing ongoing U.S. attacks and sanctions.

Talks frozen since U.S. strikes

Diplomatic engagement over Iran’s nuclear programme has been frozen since June, when U.S. strikes destroyed parts of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. Israel launched the war days before the next round of talks was set to begin.

Washington has since demanded that any future agreement include a total ban on uranium enrichment — a step far beyond the limits imposed under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which Trump withdrew from in 2018.

Tehran has rejected the demand, arguing that the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) guarantees its right to peaceful enrichment.

“Iran is open to a deal,” Parsi said. “But what Trump wants is for Iran to capitulate. As long as he insists on zero enrichment, there won’t be one.”

Fallout from war

Israel’s June offensive included targeted killings of Iranian military leaders and nuclear scientists, as well as air strikes that killed hundreds. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the U.S. decision to bomb Iranian facilities as a “biblical miracle.”

While Trump has claimed that the strikes “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear programme, assessments differ. The Pentagon estimates the damage set Iran back by one to two years, while IAEA chief Rafael Grossi has said Iran could resume enrichment within months.

Strategic patience in Washington

Analysts say the U.S. may see little urgency in restarting diplomacy. Gregory Brew, an Iran specialist at the Eurasia Group, told Al Jazeera that Trump is likely comfortable maintaining pressure.

“Trump can sound optimistic about diplomacy, but he can also afford to wait and let Iran sweat,” Brew said. “With its programme in ruins and new Israeli strikes likely if it rebuilds, Iran’s leadership has few good options.”

Iran is also facing renewed United Nations sanctions, reimposed in August after France, Germany, and the UK triggered a “snapback” mechanism citing JCPOA violations. Tehran has dismissed the deal as irrelevant following the U.S. and Israeli attacks and has accused the IAEA of failing to condemn strikes on its nuclear sites.

“There’s no upside for Trump in resuming talks without Iranian concessions,” Brew said. “For now, he can wait — and see whether growing economic pain forces Iran back to the table.”