The US blockade on Iranian shipments through the Strait of Hormuz is an attempt to pressure Tehran economically and induce Iran into making concessions while avoiding a broader military escalatory cycle. Iran’s muted response to the blockade is also a positive indicator that the country’s leadership remains open to a negotiated settlement rather than drawing the US further into a damaging military confrontation.

The direct talks between the US and Iran in Islamabad on 11 April were widely labeled a failure after ending without a deal. But it was not realistic to expect a single day of negotiations to deliver a comprehensive agreement after 47 years of hostility and six weeks of direct conflict. If the Islamabad talks prove to be the start of a process, that alone would represent a success. (CONTINUED - 1164 WORDS)

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