Boutros WSW

Israeli tanks in Beirut in 1982, before Hezbollah existed. There has always been an excuse. It was never their fault.

VICE PRESIDENT VANCE: "We have tried for 21 hours, but we are returning to the United States without an agreement. The Iranians would not accept our best offer."

🚨🇮🇷🇺🇸 BREAKING: Iran releases a blistering statement after 21 hours of talks collapse in Islamabad: "The American enemy, which is vile, wicked and dishonest, attempted to achieve on the negotiating table what it could not achieve through war. Iran has decided to reject these terms and continue the sacred defense of its fatherland by any means necessary, military or diplomatic." That's the IRGC calling the United States "vile, wicked and dishonest" minutes after Vance boarded Air Force Two. They say the U.S. demanded Iran hand over enriched uranium and give up sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz. Iran said no to both. This statement wasn't written after the talks failed. This was written before they started. The IRGC never intended to accept these terms, and the language, "sacred defense by any means necessary," is a direct signal that the military wing is back in control of Iran's decision-making. Ghalibaf walked in with photos of dead children from Minab. The IRGC delegation landed separately. 86 officials sat through 21 hours. And in the end, the people who actually run Iran decided that what America offered wasn't worth what America destroyed. Source: WSJ

🚨🇺🇸🇮🇷The talks failed. Here's what actually happens next... Twenty-one hours of historic negotiations ended with Vance walking out and Iran blaming "American greed." But the details matter more than the headline. What actually broke down: Two issues. Iran won't give up Hormuz control or commit to ending enrichment. The U.S. won't unfreeze assets or accept Iranian tolls on international waters. After 21 hours, neither side moved enough on either. What didn't break down: The ceasefire is still in effect. Iran says "negotiations will continue despite remaining differences" and technical experts will exchange documents. Vance left a "final and best offer" on the table. Nobody burned the bridge. They just couldn't cross it today. Pakistan is understandably devastated. The delegation reportedly poured enormous political and diplomatic capital into making this happen. Islamabad locked down a city of two million people, deployed thousands of troops, flew fighter escorts for the Iranian delegation, and put its international credibility on the line. Now it's caught between its defense pact with Saudi Arabia and its role as Iran's mediator, with nothing to show for it yet. The realistic scenarios: Iran quietly accepts the "final offer" within days. The mood swings during talks suggest they were close on some issues. Sometimes walking out is what forces the other side to move. If Iran's economic desperation is as severe as sources inside the talks suggested, the financial pressure may override the political resistance. Pakistan or another mediator brokers a resumption. The clock runs out with no agreement and Trump faces the same decision he faced on April 8th. My read: This isn't the end. The war started because two sides couldn't bridge their differences across a table. It would be tragically fitting if it restarts for the same reason. Source: Reuters, Washington Post