War on Iran: uneasy truce

With the two-week ceasefire about to expire, all eyes are on whether the U.S. and Iran will return to the negotiating table—or drift further apart. Washington has announced a team led by Vice President JD Vance, but Tehran has yet to confirm its participation, and no U.S. delegation has departed. President Donald Trump has said the ceasefire will end "Wednesday evening, Washington time." At the same time, Iran is calling for the release of a cargo vessel seized by the U.S. Navy, along with its sailors, crew, and their families. Where does diplomacy stand now? Are both sides still preparing to talk—or bracing for the ceasefire to collapse? With pressure mounting on all fronts, are we heading toward a last-minute breakthrough—or a return to open conflict?