Iran’s calculations as US escalation looms: Trust, midterms, Hormuz

Regional powers are stepping up diplomacy to prevent another escalation in the eight-month US-Israel war on Iran, but Tehran shows little sign of abandoning its red lines. China says it will soon send an envoy to the region, while officials from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye have met Iranian leaders to continue talks on peace and security. Iran is demanding sanctions relief, an end to the US naval blockade of its Gulf ports and guarantees against renewed attacks in exchange for restoring normal traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Before the war, the strait carried one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, giving Iran considerable leverage over maritime trade.