The negotiations between the United States and Iran have failed due to the American approach to diplomacy, which has hampered efforts to broker a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, or to turn the Gaza truce into a lasting denouement between Israelis and Palestinians. The author points out that the U.S. in the second term of Donald Trump relies heavily on amateurs, who may have the trust of the president but are often out of their depth. This is part of a broader assault against professionalism across government, with officials who would normally play leading roles in diplomacy relegated to bit parts while the president’s friends and family members have taken the leads. Steve Witkoff, a real-estate tycoon from New York, has been named as the unofficial top diplomat for Ukraine, Gaza, and Iran. The article suggests that the Board of Peace that was supposed to manage the long-term solution for Gaza and Israel has become distracted by other issues.