Diplomacy
Statecraft and back-channel dynamics — the State Department, Pentagon press desk, allied diplomatic posture, UN action, and the public statements that signal private decisions.
Netanyahu: All Iranian Uranium Must Leave; MOU Covers Only 60%
Netanyahu says Iran's enriched uranium must be removed and enrichment dismantled, even as the Witkoff-Kushner one-page MOU only commits Tehran to shipping out its 60% stockpile.
China Presses Iran for 'Comprehensive Ceasefire' Before Trump-Xi Summit
Chinese FM Wang Yi met Abbas Araghchi in Beijing on May 6, urging a full ceasefire with unusual urgency ahead of the May 14–15 Trump-Xi summit where China aims to claim credit for ending the conflict.
Araghchi in Beijing as U.S. Presses China to Break Hormuz Deadlock
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing on Wednesday as Secretary of State Rubio urged China to tell Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz before the May 14 Trump-Xi summit.
Iran Submits 14-Point Counter to U.S. Ceasefire Offer; Trump Cool
Tehran's counter-proposal demands a 30-day war-end, U.S. withdrawal from Iran's periphery, lifting of the naval blockade and sanctions, frozen-asset release, and a new Hormuz governance regime.
Murkowski Drafts AUMF for Iran With Congressional Guardrails
Sen. Lisa Murkowski plans an Iran war authorization with built-in requirements for defined objectives — distinct from Democratic termination resolutions and not a blank check.
Iran Sends Peace Proposal to Pakistan Mediators
Tehran offers phased Hormuz reopening via Pakistan backchannel, deferring nuclear concessions. Trump signals skepticism; new Supreme Leader issues Gulf warning.
Trump Posts 'No More Mr. Nice Guy,' Cancels Islamabad Talks
Trump rejected Iran's Hormuz proposal, canceled Pakistan-mediated talks, and threatened an extended blockade as Brent crude held above $114 for an eighth straight session.
GCC Leaders Demand Permanent Hormuz Settlement at Jeddah Summit
Gulf Cooperation Council heads of state met in Jeddah for their first in-person summit since the war began, calling for a permanent Hormuz navigation agreement as Iran's latest proposal was rejected by the US.
Putin Backs Iran as Araghchi Visits St. Petersburg
Russia pledged full support to Iran as Foreign Minister Araghchi met Putin in St. Petersburg, deepening the diplomatic rift over the U.S. naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
What is the IAEA, and what can it actually do?
The International Atomic Energy Agency is the only entity with on-the-ground access to Iran's nuclear program. Its quarterly reports are the most-cited documents in any nuclear-policy conversation. Here's how it actually works — and what its limits are.
Why Saudi Arabia's diplomatic posture is the most-watched indicator of all
Riyadh sits at the center of every Iran scenario. Its public statements, oil decisions, and back-channel signals matter more than any single American or Israeli statement. Here's how to read what Saudi Arabia is actually doing.
Russia and China's Iran posture: real or performative?
Both major powers have benefited from the Iran cycle without committing to either side. Their public statements are loud; their actions are minimal. Here's what each is actually doing — and why the restraint matters more than the rhetoric.
What does 'sanctions' actually mean? A mechanical explainer
The word 'sanctions' covers a dozen different mechanisms with vastly different impact. Here's how primary, secondary, and unilateral sanctions work — what bites, what doesn't, and why Iran is still functioning under maximum-pressure.