How does diplomacy work during a military deadlock?
Consider This from NPR
NPR
4.2 • 6.2K Ratings
🗓️ 3 May 2026
⏱️ 8 minutes
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Summary
President Trump has oscillated between a willingness to engage in diplomacy and threats to resume the American bombing campaign if he doesn’t get a deal.
All this has complicated negotiations, which the U.S. and Iran are holding through intermediaries.
So, how do leaders try to negotiate with countries they’re in conflict with?
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | It's considered this where every day we go deep on one big news story. |
| 0:04.7 | The war with Iran is in a deadlock. |
| 0:09.0 | American warships have redirected more than 40 vessels in their ongoing blockade of Iranian ports, according to U.S. Central Command. |
| 0:16.5 | On Sunday, a U.K. maritime watchdogs at a cargo ship near the Strait of Hormuz was attacked by small boats. |
| 0:24.0 | And Iranian state media has published warnings like this one transmitted to vessels in the area. |
| 0:28.9 | Warship one-two-one. This is Sephanavi Station. |
| 0:33.3 | You must alter course and go back to the Indian Ocean immediately. |
| 0:38.1 | If you don't obey my order, you will be targeted out. |
| 0:42.3 | On Sunday evening, President Trump said on social media that the U.S. would attempt to help neutral ships leave the straight starting Monday. |
| 0:50.1 | As for peace talks, there is no permanent ceasefire. |
| 0:53.8 | The newest proposal is from Iranian negotiators. |
| 0:56.8 | This past week, they submitted a 14-point response to a previous U.S. proposal to end the conflict. |
| 1:03.5 | And state media says the U.S. has responded. |
| 1:06.5 | President Trump was vague when asked by reporters about the proposal on Friday. |
| 1:10.4 | So they want to make a deal, but I don't, I'm not satisfied with it. |
| 1:14.6 | So we'll see what happens. |
| 1:16.0 | The president has oscillated between comments like that one and threats to resume the American bombing campaign if he does not get a deal. |
| 1:24.2 | I mean, do we want to go and just blast the hell out of him and finish him forever? Or do we want to try and make a deal? Let me answer the opposite. Do you want to go, blast the hell out of them? I'd prefer not. On a human basis, I'd prefer not. But that's the option. All this is complicated negotiations, which the U.S. and Iran are holding through intermediaries. |
| 1:45.0 | Consider this. |
| 1:46.1 | A diplomatic solution will be critical in bringing the Iran war to an end. |
| 1:50.4 | So how do leaders try to negotiate with countries they're in conflict with? |
| 2:00.3 | No. From NPR news, I'm Emily Fang. |
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