Iran–US negotiations are stalled with little recent progress as Tehran times its posture around the US midterm elections. Atlantic Council senior fellow Alex Plitsas says Iran is unlikely to give Trump a clear political win before the midterms, constraining near-term negotiating space. A Sept. 15 JP Morgan report says a recent Iran–Gulf meeting was canceled after Iran insisted on compulsory transit fees for the Strait of Hormuz, which Gulf states rejected. The report also flags Saudi east–west o

Iran–US negotiations are stalled with little recent progress as Tehran times its posture around the US midterm elections. Atlantic Council senior fellow Alex Plitsas says Iran is unlikely to give Trump a clear political win before the midterms, constraining near-term negotiating space. A Sept. 15 JP Morgan report says a recent Iran–Gulf meeting was canceled after Iran insisted on compulsory transit fees for the Strait of Hormuz, which Gulf states rejected. The report also flags Saudi east–west oil pipeline as a new supply-risk, with experts split on restart timing—from rapid recovery to several weeks—and a continued risk of further attacks.