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 According to Larry Johnson, the US has until 7/11/26 before the reserves run out and the real pressure starts. That's the same date as Pakistani-orchestrated talks between the United States and Iran are supposed to resume.  Will the US actually act in good faith? Can Iran really trust the West? What is Pakistan (and China, for that matter) willing to risk to see this through? How does Lebanon and Palestine factor in? What about Israel?  Hopefully these questions will be addressed/answered in the next few weeks. 

 

 

  Notable Points: The United States has apparently already (electronically) signed the MOU. Iran is more cohesive since in the wake of the US/Israeli strikes. Iran (via Pakistan) has made it clear to the US that violating the MOU will have serious consequences. China was not actually pressuring Iran to make a deal. The goal was to get America to agree to certain terms/assurances, so that when the US (or Israel) inevitably violate them, the world will understand that Iran was trying to find a peaceful resolution.  That said: in terms of revealing motivations, China plays things closer to the vest than Russia, Iran and Pakistan.  So it sounds like the major three parties (China, Russia and Iran, the three countries the US is determined to wage war against sooner or later) are aware of the United States proclivity towards duplicitous diplomacy. Also, it sounds like Iran has at least one ace that's threatening enough to give the United States pause; whether it's something nuc...