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 American blockade and Iran’s control of the Strait of Hormuz have created a stalemate that is neither peace nor raging conflict, with both sides attempting economic strangulation on the water.
A Russian tanker seemingly en route to Cuba with a lifeline of fuel has changed direction, a painful development for the island suffering under a U.S. oil blockade.
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.
The war in Iran has disrupted supplies of diesel, used to power trucks and heavy equipment, much more than gasoline, which is primarily used in passenger cars.