Notes

The economic weapon. Before June 13, when Israeli forces struck Iran, the United States had been negotiating with it over its nuclear program: In exchange for curtailing parts of its nuclear capabilities, Tehran would get some measure of sanctions relief.

Now, after two weeks of intense fighting, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says, “Iran has in recent days received messages indicating that the U.S. may be ready to return to negotiations.” U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff says the two countries were discussing the resumption of talks. U.S. President Donald Trump, meanwhile, says, “They had a war, they fought, now they’re going back to their world. I don’t care if I have an agreement or not.”

But for now, it’s sanctions redux: The U.S. maintains Trump’s “maximum pressure” strategy from his first term, sanctioning much of Iran’s economy in the hope that Tehran will make a deal.

Has this ever worked?

—Gustav Jönsson