The United States has frozen in anticipation of Tehran's official reply to the latest American proposal. Disagreements are mounting within President Donald Trump’s administration: some senior officials insist on limited military strikes to "break the deadlock," while others believe diplomacy should be given another chance to avoid a full-scale conflict. Al Jazeera's correspondent reports that leaks from the Pentagon confirm a deep split within the security agencies.
Official Washington has articulated key demands: Iran's complete renunciation of nuclear weapons, dismantling of centrifuges, transfer of all enriched uranium to international control, cessation of support for regional allies, and guarantees of free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. Against this backdrop, U.S. Central Command reported the forced diversion of 78 ships and the neutralization of four Iranian vessels, demonstrating that military pressure is going hand in hand with diplomacy.
The domestic political situation for the Trump team is complicated by the economic consequences of the confrontation. Fuel prices in the U.S. have surged by more than 50%, triggering cost increases in other sectors. Democrats are demanding troop withdrawals and an end to military operations without Congressional approval, narrowing the administration's maneuvering room. The administration finds itself squeezed between the need to show strength and public pressure to end the protracted standoff.
American officials accuse Iran of deliberately dragging out negotiations, asserting that the fragmented power structure in Tehran forces the delegation to keep returning for new instructions. Donald Trump, for his part, intensified his rhetoric, posting on social media a photo of American ships in the Strait of Hormuz with the caption "Calm before the storm" and warning that Iran "will face hard times" if no agreement is reached. At the same time, according to Pakistan's prime minister, mediation efforts between the parties continue.
Against coordinated U.S. and Israeli preparations for a possible breakdown in talks, Israeli media report plans to carry out limited strikes on Iranian infrastructure — power plants and bridges — rather than wage a full-scale war. Professor Muhammad al-Sharqawi believes Trump has become less inclined to escalate due to domestic pressure and that only "very limited skirmishes" are likely now. Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Sergio de la Peña explained that Trump's threats are a tactical negotiating move designed to keep the opponent on edge, not a harbinger of real war.
Comments on the news
What does the "fragmented power structure in Tehran" mean and how does it affect Iran's ability to negotiate? – The "fragmented power structure" in Iran means that key decisions are not made by a single person but by several centers of influence: the Supreme Leader (who controls the military and judiciary), the president (responsible for the economy and diplomacy) and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC, which has its own foreign-policy and economic interests). Such decentralization slows down negotiations because even if the president or diplomats agree to a compromise, the IRGC or conservative religious structures can block the deal's ratification. Additionally, external partners often do not know with whom they are negotiating — a pragmatic government or a radical faction.
What are centrifuges used for in Iran's nuclear program, and why do the U.S. demand their complete dismantling? – Centrifuges are devices that spin uranium gas at high speeds to separate the isotopes uranium-235 and uranium-238. They are used for uranium enrichment: enrichment to 3–5% is fuel for nuclear power plants, up to 20% is for medical reactors, and up to 90% is for a nuclear bomb. The U.S. demands complete dismantling of centrifuges because any enrichment on Iranian soil raises suspicions: Iran has already enriched uranium to 60% (near weapons grade) and continues to install more efficient centrifuges, which would allow it to produce a nuclear weapon in a short time (as little as two weeks) if it withdrew from international agreements. Dismantling removes Iran's ability to quickly "jump" to military-grade enrichment.
Which regional allies of Iran are meant, and how does their support threaten the interests of the U.S. and its allies? – This refers to the "Axis of Resistance": Shia groups in Iraq (e.g., Kata'ib Hezbollah), Lebanon's Hezbollah, Yemen's Houthis, Palestinian groups (Hamas, Islamic Jihad), as well as Bashar al-Assad's government in Syria. Iran's support for them (arms supplies, fighter training, financing) enables these forces to attack American bases in the Middle East (for example, in Iraq), disrupt navigation in the Red Sea (via the Houthis) and fire rockets at Israel (via Hezbollah and Hamas). This threatens the interests of the U.S. and its allies (Israel, Saudi Arabia) by creating a persistent hotspot of instability, undermining Israel's security, and potentially leading to a wider regional war that Washington is trying to avoid.
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