There’s little indication that recent developments between the United States and Iran have shifted either side’s core positions, according to political analyst James Dorsey who spoke to AnewZ on the Daybreak programme.
Despite recent reports of indirect engagement through intermediaries - including possible talks reportedly planned in Pakistan - Dorsey stressed that the core positions of both sides remain unchanged.
“What we’re seeing is motion without movement, or a dialogue of the deaf,” he said.
“The U.S. President still believes military and Israeli superiority will force Iran to surrender. That’s not how Iran sees it,” Dorsey added.
The analyst pointed to Tehran’s asymmetric military strategy as a source of leverage. Iran has sought to exploit its ability to threaten strategic routes such as the Strait of Hormuz, a vital passage for global oil shipments, and has taken steps to disrupt shipping through the waterway as part of its response.
Dorsey also addressed the role of Kharg Island, Iran’s main oil export hub. He described its importance as primarily economic:
“Control of Kharg would tighten the U.S. economic stranglehold on Iran, although Tehran still has alternative export options,” he said.
Iran’s leadership has repeatedly signalled that it would be prepared to fight on its own territory, underscoring its belief that homeland defence plays to its strengths.
Recent diplomatic dynamics have also been shaped by Tehran’s rejection of a U.S.-backed ceasefire plan, instead proposing its own terms - including demands for control over the Strait of Hormuz and compensation for losses - while maintaining a hardline stance on negotiations.
Meanwhile, there have been fresh Israeli airstrikes on cities such as Isfahan, Iranian long‑range missile launches, and growing involvement by regional actors alongside spillover attacks in the Gulf. Financial markets and global energy prices have also been unsettled by the prolonged fighting and threats to key supply routes.
On the diplomatic front, Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, has framed U.S. messaging as evidence of failure, reflecting Tehran’s belief that shaping the battlefield is part of its broader strategic posture. Dorsey said this view underscores Iran’s refusal to yield ground rhetorically or militarily.
Despite significant damage to Iranian infrastructure from U.S. and Israeli operations, there is no clear indication that Tehran’s negotiating stance has softened.
“As long as the Iranians can fire missiles and drones, they remain a player,” Dorsey said.
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A South Korean appeals court on Thursday reduced former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo’s prison sentence from 23 years to 15 years over his role in ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol’s brief imposition of martial law in 2024.
A senior commander in Hezbollah’s elite Radwan force was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut on Wednesday (6 May), highlighting ongoing tensions despite a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.
Trump said the U.S. and Iran were making progress in peace talks, though direct negotiations remain premature. Meanwhile, Israel, reportedly, struck senior Hezbollah and Hamas figures and tensions over Hormuz and Tehran’s nuclear programme continue.
U.S. President Donald Trump said that Iran wanted to negotiate and make a deal in comments to reporters on Wednesday (6 May). But earlier, he warned Washington would ramp up attacks if no agreement was reached.
Argentinian authorities are reconstructing the journeys of Dutch citizens who presented with symptoms of deadly hantavirus after visiting Argentina and Chile as part of a luxury cruise trip, the country's Health Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday (6 May)
The United Arab Emirate said it was dealing with missile and drone attacks from Iran for the second day in a row on Tuesday (5 May), despite denials from authorities in Tehran who threatened a "crushing response" if the UAE retaliated.
The 61st Venice Biennale has opened under grey skies and political tension, with disputes over Russia and Israel, resignations on the jury, and protests marking the start of one of the art world’s most high-profile events.
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An Israeli air strike has killed the son of Hamas’ chief negotiator in U.S.-mediated Gaza talks, as group leaders met in Cairo to shore up a fragile ceasefire with Israel.
Reports that Emmanuel Macron planned to cross from Armenia into Türkiye via their closed border - and was reportedly blocked following consultations with Azerbaijan - have sparked renewed debate on South Caucasus diplomacy.
Israel carried out airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs on Wednesday evening, the first such attack there since a U.S.-brokered ceasefire with Lebanon took effect on 16 April, according to the Lebanese broadcaster al‑Jadeed.
Approximately $8 billion worth of contracts are expected to be signed at SAHA Expo 2026 in Istanbul, Türkiye. The major international defence, aerospace and space industry exhibition is being held over five days from 5 - 6 May.
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