18 June 2026

The Truce Between the U.S. and Iran Was the Easy Part

Foreign Policy  |  Daniel Byman

The United States and Iran face ongoing negotiations despite a recently outlined truce framework by U.S. President Donald Trump. This framework, which includes opening the Strait of Hormuz, ending the U.S. blockade, and ceasing military strikes, remains vague. Critical issues like economic relief for Iran, Israel’s war with Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Iran’s nuclear program are unresolved.

The article argues that the U.S. and Israeli war against Iran may have weakened the U.S. bargaining position, making it less able to extract concessions from Tehran despite the war’s heavy cost. Consequently, even if the shaky peace holds, both nations will be in constant negotiation over details and next steps, indicating that achieving substantive concessions from Iran will be a significant struggle.

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