US and Iran seek exit from war amid complex negotiations

Following threats of "the largest attacks since World War II" by U.S. President Donald Trump, a new round of negotiations between the U.S. and Iran has been initiated, with mediation from Gulf states led by Saudi Arabia. These talks are a direct consequence of recent U.S. strikes and Iranian retaliatory measures. The negotiations are expected to be accompanied by an immediate halt to all hostilities.

Both Tehran and Washington are urgently seeking a way out of the war and the geopolitical and economic-energy chaos that erupted after the U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran more than five months ago. Iran's exit strategy hinges on respecting a memorandum signed by the two countries a month and a half ago. A key point for the Iranian regime is maintaining control over the Strait of Hormuz, an agreement that negotiators have reached.

However, the situation in the Persian Gulf has become more complicated. The United States has not adhered to the agreement, which was described as rather loose and difficult to fully implement on the ground. Traffic in the strait, through which a fifth of the world's oil and natural gas was transported before the war, stalled again. Iranian retaliatory attacks on U.S.-allied targets in the region forced Gulf states to pressure Donald Trump to stop the attacks.