Iranian and American positions may have been far apart during the post-ceasefire talks in Islamabad. However, it appears that both sides are seeking a way out of the impasse. US President Donald Trump has hinted at another round of talks in the coming days, while Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said his country is not seeking war but dialogue. 

Clearly, the space for diplomacy has not disappeared. But the problem is not only the trust deficit; it is also that neither side wants to appear “weak” before its domestic audience. This is evident in Trump’s naval blockade, under which the US Navy is interdicting ships entering or leaving Iranian ports. Vessels calling at non-Iranian ports are allowed to proceed — assuming Iran, which has closed the Strait of Hormuz to “enemy ships”, permits their passage.

The message behind the blockade is that if other nations cannot export through the strait, neither can Iran. Such a move targets Tehran’s war chest — its oil exports and revenues have surged during the conflict — to force it to accept a deal.