Oil Spike and Diplomatic Deadlock: Iran Weighs Economic Ruin Against US Concessions
Iranian hardliners cite a crude price surge above $116 as proof that maritime pressure works, while moderates warn the economic toll is unsustainable. Simultaneous diplomatic efforts involve Qatari mediation and a four-way meeting with Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey, but core disputes over nuclear capabilities and blockade sequencing remain unresolved.
