Hollow Deals, Tricky Negotiations, and State Visits
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- Washington and Tehran are nearing a 60‑day memorandum of understanding that could end the war launched by the United States and Israel on Feb. 28.
- U.S. forces have recently struck missile sites and vessels in southern Iran, shot down Iranian drones, and Iran has reportedly fired missiles at Kuwait, indicating ongoing hostilities despite the truce.
- Deal would resume maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and lift the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports, while postponing detailed negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program and economic relief.
- President Donald Trump had earlier called for an unconditional surrender, a stance the emerging agreement does not satisfy, disappointing his Operation Epic Fury supporters.
Why it matters: Regional markets and shipping interests gain from the expected resumption of Hormuz traffic, while Trump’s hard‑line base loses a promised unconditional surrender, potentially shifting U.S. political calculations.
