Third Iran-US war would be different, but who blinks first in a stalemate? Experts ask

Added: 2026-05-01

Diplomatic deadlocks between major powers create dangerous situations where neither side desires prolonged stalemate, increasing the likelihood of military escalation; Iran's three-stage proposal attempting to separate nuclear issues from the Strait of Hormuz blockade represents a strategic effort to address immediate regional concerns, but the absence of promising signals from the US and intensified military postures by both Iran and Israel suggest that renewed conflict may become more likely than diplomatic resolution.