A photo taken in Islamabad, on April 10, 2026. (Credit: Farooq NAEEM/AFP)
This may be the most crucial diplomatic confrontation between Washington and Tehran in nearly five decades, since the birth of the Islamic Republic. These talks resemble armistice negotiations more than classic nuclear diplomacy, making them broader, more unstable and considerably more difficult to carry out. One observes a significant change compared to previous cycles, both in format and in scope, the style of mediation and the dynamic. These are postwar negotiations, based on a fragile cease-fire and conducted under extreme pressure. This deeply alters their nature: it is no longer about preventing escalation, but about managing its consequences.Last June, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a hastily arranged cease-fire with Iran, opening the current phase without settling the fundamental issues. The only solid compromise so far is...
This may be the most crucial diplomatic confrontation between Washington and Tehran in nearly five decades, since the birth of the Islamic Republic. These talks resemble armistice negotiations more than classic nuclear diplomacy, making them broader, more unstable and considerably more difficult to carry out. One observes a significant change compared to previous cycles, both in format and in scope, the style of mediation and the dynamic. These are postwar negotiations, based on a fragile cease-fire and conducted under extreme pressure. This deeply alters their nature: it is no longer about preventing escalation, but about managing its consequences.Last June, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a hastily arranged cease-fire with Iran, opening the current phase without settling the fundamental issues. The only solid compromise so far...
