Economic realities may force Iran to the table
Hardline rhetoric and positions apparently further apart than ever may obscure appetite for a deal
Iran and the P5+1—the US, the UK, France, China, Russia and Germany—remain no closer to a nuclear deal after six rounds of talks. It is difficult not to feel that previous cautious optimism may be ebbing away as we enter a seventh round. The key question, though, may be whether Iran can afford not to reach an agreement. The election of Ebrahim Raisi, mooted as a potential successor to the ailing 82-year-old supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has ushered in a new period in Iranian politics. Unsurprisingly, the alignment of conservative centres of power in Tehran has irked diplomats in Washington. Tit-for-tat tanker attacks in the Mid-East Gulf in recent weeks have also escalated—bringing
Also in this section
23 April 2024
Cheaper Russian barrels and lower overall crude prices have helped cut key oil consumer’s import bills in election year
22 April 2024
Pursuing three different goals as part of the same package may mean achieving none of them
22 April 2024
Beijing’s renewed targeting of NOC management could threaten investment
19 April 2024
Cairo’s currency problems have hindered investment, but Pharos sees considerable potential as Egypt emerges from crisis