Iran signals willingness to negotiate as tensions simmer over nuclear deal

A month has passed since the United States and Iran signed a preliminary agreement, yet recent developments suggest the diplomatic process remains fragile. Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz have escalated in recent days, whilst crowds at the funeral of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called for strikes against President Trump, raising questions about whether hardliners within Iran’s leadership might derail negotiations.

Dani Sitrinowitz, a former head of the Iran desk at Israel’s military intelligence branch (Aman), suggests there remains a genuine possibility that a comprehensive agreement could be reached by the end of August. However, he cautions that several obstacles could still emerge to prevent a final deal from materialising.

A key concern centres on the recent attack on a Qatari-flagged tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway through which a significant portion of the world’s oil passes. Such incidents could potentially trigger a military escalation that would prove incompatible with continued negotiations, potentially collapsing the entire diplomatic framework.

The timing is particularly sensitive, as regional tensions remain high and both sides face domestic political pressures. Iranian hardliners view any compromise on the nuclear programme with suspicion, whilst the American administration faces its own scrutiny over the terms being negotiated. Sitrinowitz’s analysis suggests the coming weeks will be decisive in determining whether diplomacy can prevail over confrontation.

Source: Ynet — Original article in Hebrew.