Iran war and its discontents

Two months after Israel and the US triggered the conflict in West Asia with their attacks on Iran, peace remains elusive, and there appears to be a stalemate in efforts to push the combatants towards a cessation of hostilities.

A fragile ceasefire has held since April 8, but the resumption of the war remains a possibility, especially with US President Donald Trump pointing towards targeted strikes as part of his efforts to push the negotiations.

The White House has insisted that it will not rush into a “bad deal”, whereas Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian has described the US blockade of Iranian ports as an “intolerable” extension of military operations.