A political fight is playing out in Iran, where the small but loud faction of hard-liners has used rallies, state media and private and public statements to try to undermine negotiations.
President Trump’s shifts reflect a political tug of war between hawkish supporters urging him to hit Iran harder and noninterventionists urging him to make a quick deal.
The president said more countries should be required to recognize Israel as part of a deal to end the war with Iran. Analysts say the chances of that happening are close to zero.
An Afghan Border Protection Forces officer, left, and Pakistani Army soldiers, right, at the border crossing between the two countries, in Spin Boldak, Afghanistan, in December.
In Lebanon, each new cease-fire is met with blind optimism — as if it hails the end of a conflict instead of what it actually is: an admission ticket to the next war.
With talks at an impasse, both sides are holding to positions their opponents call unacceptable, while the economic pain caused by the Strait of Hormuz blockade continues to grow.
With President Trump’s visit to Beijing looming, China is pushing Iran to negotiate even as its companies export material that could be used by Iran’s military.
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