No solid progress at talks

[SamuelTheThird]

According to my sources, despite the Iranian delegation’s readiness to remain in Islamabad, there are many sticking points. These points aren’t being solved at the moment.

When it comes to the Strait of Hormuz, the gaps aren’t being bridged.

The two sides have a kind of a framework, but this framework isn’t actually comprehensive, and it doesn’t cover all the issues that both sides have differences over.

So, at least from what I heard from these sources, there’s nothing really solid to expect from these talks for now. (Al Jazeera)

[WarGamer]

1. To be honest, Iran is asking for ponies...

Like Hitler asking Russia to retreat off of German territory and pay reparations in April of 1945.

iran doesn't have much leverage other than their threat to the Global (particularly Asian) Economy

And the US is running warships through the Strait of Hormuz today to prove the point.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. Sending JD Vance to negotiate a peace agreement is an exercise in futility.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100221164977

[WarGamer]

3. agreed!!

[Redleg]

8. Agreed- unless there is more to Vance than his smarmy exterior and unprincipled behavior suggest

Probably not.

[SamuelTheThird]

4. 'iran doesn't have much leverage other than threatening to cause a worldwide depression'

lol

and yes, if things get to scorched earth territory, the rest of the oil infrastructure in the gulf states will be decimated

https://www.france24.com/en/france-confirms-oil-crisis-says-30-40-gulf-energy-infrastructure-destroyed

[ananda]

7. This is just flag-swashing. No oil is moving.

...

[WarGamer]

9. they're testing to see if any IRGC commanders are crazy enough to order attacks.

[ananda]

12. What would you do if you were Iran?

I know what I think.

[WarGamer]

14. Id call for a truce. I'd order an election referendum for a new Democratic Constitution

Let the people chart their own future

[newdeal2]

16. If you are granted wishes by a genie, start with fixing the US

And getting rid of this asshole president and his movement.

[ananda]

19. Do you think they'd do that?

I'm sure it's a good idea...

[dpibel]

10. A swing and a miss!

In your world, Iran is equivalent to Nazi Germany? You do remember who was the aggressor in that WarGame...errr...war, right?

I can't even imagine how you would get there. Maybe you just didn't proofread.

And, while we're here, this is a world-class handwave: "other than their threat to the Global (particularly Asian) Economy."

I mean, the ability to threaten the Global economy amounts to no leverage?

Please tell me what you are smoking so I can be sure to avoid it.

And, gosh. What point exactly does running warships through the strait prove? You believe that all the tankers currently lying by will say, "Well! If U.S. warships can transit the strait, why can't I?"

But all of this is moot, because the US won weeks ago and Iran was then and is now utterly helpless. I know this because I read it right here on DU. (Helpful interpretive hint: Saying that Iran may not be utterly helpless is neither claiming that it is winning nor hating on the US of A and its beloved helmsman.)

[FHRRK1]

24. US said they crossed the straight

Iran said they didn’t.

So, did they or didn’t they?

And define “cross.”

Point being, the info is conflicting.

[muriel_volestrangler]

5. Source:

Ali Hashem
Reporting from Tehran, Iran
https://aje.news/ndjgyz?update=4483938

[WarGamer]

6. looks legit... Tehran Tom reporting from Tehran

[dpibel]

11. Beneath your dignity.

As a first matter, that's an "all them Ay-rabs is the same" slur, and a terribly petty one at that.

You are suggesting that this person is just a madman mouthpiece for the ayatollahs?

Here's his Al Jazeera brief bio:

Ali Hashem is a senior Al Jazeera correspondent with a focus on Iran, Lebanon, Iraq and the wider region. He is also a fellow at Lancaster University's Sectarianism, Proxies and De-sectarianisation Project.

You do remember who Baghdad Bob worked for, I trust.

Or are you suggesting that Al Jazeera is just a propaganda arm of the Iranian regime?

This whole thing is really getting to you, isn't it?

[WarGamer]

13. Every word reported from inside Iran is reviewed by the IRGC

[SamuelTheThird]

15. His reporting was borne out by subsequent events

ie, Vance said no agreement was reached

[dpibel]

22. You say that so authoritatively

based on what?

You are really getting out over your skis on this stuff.

I understand your enthusiasm for this wee excursion. But you really shouldn't declare absolute truths without much, if any, basis in fact.

[FHRRK1]

25. Agree

See my post above.

Do I think the IRG lies, hell yes.

Do I think the Trump admin. lies, hell yes.

Both have thousands of provable lies and I sure as hell won’t believe anything either says without verification.

[dpibel]

23. Ceases and desists?

Didn't you mean CEASES and DESISTS!!1!

I've heard this line somewhere else before. I'm just struggling to remember where.

[Swede]

18. Well with a couch fucker and two real estate developers, how can they not fail?

[SheltieLover]

20. You nailed it!

[struggle4progress]

21. Quelle surprise!