How does diplomacy work during a military deadlock?
5/3/20268 min
The war with Iran is in a deadlock. Despite a back and forth of peace plans, there is no permanent ceasefire.
President Trump has oscillated between a willingness to engage in diplomacy and threats to resume the American bombing campaign if he doesn’t get a deal.
All this has complicated negotiations, which the U.S. and Iran are holding through intermediaries.
So, how do leaders try to negotiate with countries they’re in conflict with?
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This episode was produced by Henry Larson.
It was edited by Sarah Robbins and Tinbete Ermyas.
Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsEmily Feng· Host0:00
It's Consider This, where every day we go deep on one big news story. The war with Iran is in a deadlock. [ship rumbling] American warships have redirected more than 40 vessels in their ongoing blockade of Iranian ports, according to US Central Command. On Sunday, a UK maritime watchdog said a cargo ship near the Strait of Hormuz was attacked by small boats. And Iranian state media has published warnings like this one, transmitted to vessels in the area.
Speaker 10:28
Warship 121, this is Sepah Navy station. You must alter course and go back to the Indian Ocean immediately. If you don't obey my order, you will be targeted. Out.
Emily Feng· Host0:41
On Sunday evening, President Trump said on social media that the US would attempt to help neutral ships leave the strait, starting Monday. As for peace talks, there is no permanent ceasefire. The newest proposal is from Iranian negotiators. This past week, they submitted a 14-point response to a previous US proposal to end the conflict, and state media says the US has responded. President Trump was vague when asked by reporters about the proposal on Friday.
Donald Trump· Soundbite1:10
So they wanna make a deal, but I don't, I'm not satisfied with it. So we'll see what happens.
Emily Feng· Host1:16
The president has oscillated between comments like that one and threats to resume the American bombing campaign if he does not get a deal.
Donald Trump· Soundbite1:23
I mean, do we wanna go and just blast the hell out of them and finish them forever, or do we wanna try