Diplomacy in Peril

The collapse of the most recent round of US-Iran nuclear talks is more than a failed diplomatic overture—it is a warning signal for the global non-proliferation regime and for the precarious balance of power in the Middle East.

- 

At a time when regional tensions are already on a knife-edge, the breakdown of dialogue risks inflaming an already combustible situation. Israel, backed by steadfast US support, perceives Iran’s links to Hamas and Hezbollah as existential threats, and the absence of a viable diplomatic framework may push it toward unilateral military action. The Trump administration’s simultaneous imposition of a sweeping travel ban on Iranian nationals has only deepened the distrust. The logic of diplomacy has been replaced by posturing and provocation. Iran, despite showing limited interest in returning to previous terms, has offered signals of pragmatic engagement—so long as its right to peaceful enrichment is acknowledged. But Washington’s shifting demands and contradictory policies have made progress near impossible. With the enrichment impasse unresolved and American diplomacy tied to regional conditionalities, the scope for trust has virtually evaporated. What remains is an atmosphere thick with suspicion, regional brinkmanship, and the grim possibility of a nuclear arms race.