The White House has sent envoys to Doha but refuses to meet Iranian negotiators face to face, raising tensions as the clock ticks on a critical nuclear deadline. Critics argue that this diplomatic standoff, while aimed at maintaining leverage, risks undermining the very deal it seeks to renew. For ordinary Iranians, already reeling from sanctions and soaring prices, the consequences of failure could be dire.
Labour unions in Tehran have reported increased hardship as food and fuel costs climb. The refusal to sit at the same table echoes a pattern of brinkmanship that has characterised US-Iran relations for decades. With the deadline looming, the human cost of this political chess game grows heavier by the day.
