IMO, the incoherent US actions toward Iran is the result of a clash of diverging interests. Naturally, Trump wants to get reelected, which is why he's always tooting his own horn and bashing Obama. But, to his credit, he opposes the US regime change wars, and since he's C-in-C of the US military, he has the most say. The PTB on the other hand, don't want Trump to be reelected, and they are the architects of the US regime change wars, including what's happening in Iran. For the last 40 years, the PTB have been trying to overthrow Iran's regime and install a puppet government that will kowtow to US interests. That's why Iran hates and distrusts the US. Now Trump finds himself walking a tightrope, trying to avert war and get reelected, while at the same time, trying not to get JFK'd.