Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to back away from his threat to strike Hezbollah targets in Beirut, the Lebanese capital, offers a glimmer of hope that a broader diplomatic breakthrough may still be possible in West Asia. It may also create space for a much-needed agreement between the United States and Iran, though it remains difficult to predict how soon such a deal can be reached.

Three months after the conflict began, US President Donald Trump appears publicly dismissive of the negotiations. Describing the talks as “boring”, he recently remarked, “I really don’t care. I couldn’t care less. If they are over, they are over.” Yet such nonchalance is difficult to take at face value. The economic and political costs of the crisis are mounting,........

© Free Press Journal