On Wednesday, in the midst of a tentative ceasefire, Iran issued what could be the first step in a deal with the US over the Strait of Hormuz.
Meanwhile, Iran’s foreign minister was in Beijing, meeting China’s top diplomat, who urged an end to the blockade of the vital waterway and an end to the war. Could a peace deal finally be in sight? And why has US president Donald Trump blinked first?
If the war does end, its impact on international relations will persist. German chancellor Friedrich Merz torpedoed his relationship with Trump by saying “an entire nation is being humiliated by the Iranian leadership”. Was it a tactical move by the German leader or was he shooting his mouth off?
Also, with Trump set to visit Chinese president Xi Jinping next week, what will be on the agenda for this meeting of two of the globe’s strongmen?
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Denis Staunton, Beijing correspondent and author of The Irish Times daily Global Briefing newsletter, considers the issues.
Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon.
