From Diplomacy to Escalation: The Future of US–Iran Relations Amid Ongoing Tensions

Added: 2026-05-08

[00:00:00]Zohreh Khazemi is an associate professor in the faculty of world studies at the University of Tehran and she joins us now live from Tehran. Professor Khazemi, thanks for being with us on Al Jazeera.

[00:00:09]There is a political debate going on in the US about the American War Powers Act and about whether President Trump can be legally allowed to continue this war after a 60-day period expires. You heard a little bit about that in that report that we just played. Today, Friday, marks 60 days since Trump officially notified Congress of US attacks on Iran.

[00:00:30]How aware is Iranian leadership in Tehran of all this and how is it being perceived and has there been any official reaction to it?

[00:00:40]When it comes to Iran, being Democrat, being Republican, it doesn't really matter.

[00:00:46]The Iranian perception is that the American government and lawmakers are not truly representing Americans because three out of five Americans are not supporting the war against Iran, but the but we think that maybe this time would be extended again for Trump to keep on the war and actually this unprovoked, illegal, and illegitimate blockade and even the military escalation is very eminent as the Iranians understand the military build-up of the Americans in the region.

[00:01:21]The sort of hybrid actually military act is very much expected in Tehran based on the observations in the region.

[00:01:32]Particularly the blockade has made the situation very tense and as the as General Mousavi, the commander of the IRGC Aerospace actually said that any sort of acts that Hexat believes to be short and powerful from the Iranian side would be retaliated for prolonged, extensive, and painful blow. So, I think that Americans cannot have the cake and eat it, too. They they may start another sort of adventure in the region, but it would be very extensive in framework and as Dr. Ghalibaf also mentioned, maybe new cards would be played by Iran that makes the global economy and the regional economy to collapse. Professor Khazemi, Iran's supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei, he issued a rare statement on Thursday, yesterday, stating that the Strait of Hormuz is entering a new phase of Iranian management. How do you interpret that statement when it comes to potential diplomatic efforts going forward? Is there appetite from Iranian leadership right now to continue with more potential negotiations?

[00:02:42]It is very much depending on the Americans. This was the appetite in the first round of talks in Islamabad. Iran was just talking about opening Hormuz and normalizing the situation, but the Americans immediately brought this blockade and made the situation actually very much intense fighting tense again.

[00:03:01]So, I think that in the in the sort of actually not really recognizing the sovereignty of Iran as a coastal state that likes to secure its actually borders that have been the platform of aggression against Iran. It is something that would actually make all the sorts of negotiations have no opportunity to be realized.

[00:03:22]But, I think that even it's something that, you know, last night we had the interceptions in Tehran working against drones and as I said, the military build-up, lots of assets of Americans have been brought to the region, Marines, the airborne forces, the Delta forces, aircraft carriers, assault ships. So, it doesn't actually look that Americans are really looking for negotiation, but anyway, pressuring Iran would not bring Iran into concession and capitulation as the experience has indicated. All right.

[00:03:56]Zohreh Khazemi is an associate professor in faculty of world studies at the University of Tehran. She was joining us there live from Tehran. Professor Khazemi, thanks for being with us here on Al Jazeera. We appreciate your time.