The story: US President Donald Trump’s harsh words for his Ukrainian counterpart in the White House is making waves in Iran. The showdown, followed by Washington’s announcement of a suspension in military aid to Kyiv, has become fodder for Iranian critics of direct talks with Trump. Feeling vindicated in their mistrust of the US, they argue that Volodymyr Zelensky is paying the price of looking to America to fend off Russia.

This comes as Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian remains under fire for saying that he changed his mind about negotiating...