Ahead of UNGA, here’s a look at the quiet diplomacy over the Iran war
Where talks are moving, where they’re stuck — and why Tehran may believe it has more leverage than ever
There are a dizzying number of diplomatic tracks underway across the region. Over the past several weeks, I’ve been speaking with multiple regional sources involved in or familiar with those efforts, trying to piece together what is happening behind the scenes — and where negotiations are stuck.
Oman is talking to Iran. Regional governments are shuttling between Tehran and Washington. Saudi Arabia is talking to the Houthis through intermediaries. The United States is talking directly to the Houthis and to Iran through mediators. And next week, almost everyone will be in New York for the UN General Assembly.
What emerges from those conversations is a region that very much wants an offramp, but still can’t agree on what one should look like — or how to make it stick.
Here are my biggest takeaways:
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