US-Israel War on Iran: "Talks" Stalled: "Ceasefire" Still Holding

[Sukla Sen]

[Evidently, the US aim is to consolidate its "gains" of the massive and brazenly illegal war on Iran launched on Feb. 28 together with (and goaded by?) Israel.

Then, after a pause -- to replenish its depleted firepower and, much more than that, to restore global oil trade and stabilise the oil price and thereby the American/global economy -- resume the war, in a suitable form, to effect a regime change in Iran.

As an extra, to obtain an outcome that would justify, at least to an extent, Donald Trump's shrieking claims of "victory" -- meant for the American public in general and the MAGA crowd in particular.

Keenly aware of the above, Iran wants to ensure -- in exchange for the concessions it is going to make -- a credible and durable security guarantee.

Its essential leverage is its ability to disrupt global oil supply, which despite severely wrecking Iran via this nearly forty-day war the US-Israel duo have miserably failed to eliminate.

Israel, obviously, is the joker in the pack -- a persistent spoiler.

The moment the "war" stops, Netanyahu is slated to face a very considerable domestic challenge -- including a trial on corruption charges.

As a result, the "talks" appear to have already stalled, though the "ceasefire" is still holding.]

<<Key Points

* Vice President JD Vance said U.S. officials ⁠are leaving ‌peace talks in Pakistan after the Iranian delegation refused to agree to American demands not to develop a nuclear weapon.

* Two U.S. warships transited through the Strait of Hormuz for the first time since the start of the conflict.

* A two-week ceasefire in the war is under strain because Iran is continuing to block most shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most critical oil choke point.

* Iran’s Tasnim news agency said Tehran has presented Pakistani negotiators with four “non-negotiable conditions” to mediators in Islamabad.>>

Wars and Military Conflicts

Vance heads back to the U.S. without striking a deal with Iran to bring an end to the war

Published Sat, Apr 11 2026 2:55 AM EDT

Updated 12 Min Ago

Azhar Sukri

Kevin Breuninger

@KevinWilliamB

Terri Cullen

@in/TerriCullen

<https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/11/us-iran-talks-set-to-begin-in-islamabad-after-delegations-arrive.html>

Peace Is Doable