Iran and US explore diplomacy amid rising threats of war

What happened: Iran and the US are exploring diplomacy through Qatari-mediated talks while both sides signal readiness for renewed military escalation. Iran's foreign minister said a deal remains possible if demands are implemented. Key numbers: Iran shortened its offer to partly reopen the Strait of Hormuz from seven days to two. Why it matters: Analysts describe the central difficulty as sequencing and leverage, with each side wanting the other to act first. Iran's military statements show the limits of the opening, as Tehran seeks to make another attack too costly to pursue.

Iran and the US are exploring diplomacy through Qatari-mediated talks while both sides signal readiness for renewed military escalation. Iran's foreign minister said a deal remains possible if demands are implemented.

Analysts describe the central difficulty as sequencing and leverage, with each side wanting the other to act first. Iran's military statements show the limits of the opening, as Tehran seeks to make another attack too costly to pursue.