US Plays Down Prospects for Iran Talks

Summary

The US downplayed prospects for immediate Iran talks as strikes continue. Bloomberg's Onur Ant explains the core obstacle: Iran sees Strait of Hormuz control as a fundamental right rather than a bargaining chip, making lasting de-escalation unlikely.

• US conducted an 11th consecutive evening of strikes on Iran to degrade threats to commercial shipping
• Mediators Qatar and Pakistan are trying to end the latest flare-up in fighting
• The core dispute centers on control of the Strait of Hormuz and the interim agreement wording
• Iran does not view Hormuz as a negotiating chip but as a fundamental right won in the early stages of conflict
• Absent a bridge on the Hormuz control gap, a lasting de-escalation is very difficult to achieve
• Nuclear issues have been sidelined amid the standoff over the waterway