STEP OFF THE ACCELERATOR
Iran’s actions suggest otherwise, however, and follow its own, and familiar, pattern of last-minute zig-zags.
Pakistani mediators had said the Iranian negotiating team would be travelling to Islamabad to resume talks on Wednesday, but Tehran’s stance shifted shortly after. What caused the change of heart? It is impossible to say for sure, but there are good odds that hardliners intervened again, and outmuscled their rivals.
One other significant event that may have been overlooked amid the flurry of developments is the fact that Chinese President Xi Jinping broke his silence on the Strait of Hormuz crisis on Monday.
In comments made to Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during a phone call, Mr Xi said the waterway “should remain open to normal navigation, which is in the common interest of regional countries and the international community”. Those comments were widely interpreted as a signal to Iran.
The pressure is now on both the US and Iran to step off the accelerator. Which one does first is anyone’s guess.
In hazarding one, however, it would be instructive to consider this: While Mr Trump is fighting against polling numbers; Iran is fighting for its very survival.
Carl Skadian, a former journalist and editor for 30 years, is deputy director at the Middle East Institute, National University of Singapore.
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