Neither side wants all-out war – but they’re ready to keep punchingpublished at 10:15 BST
Lyse Doucet
Chief international correspondent
“A ceasefire there is much different than a ceasefire in other parts of the world.”
That’s how Donald Trump recently described the fragile ceasefire with Iran – a truce, and an interim deal signed last month which continues to be tested.
The region seems set to live in this “no war, no peace” uncertainty rooted in the short and vaguely worded “memorandum of understanding”, which is now understood differently by each side.
Iran believes the deal gave it a say in the workings of the strategic Strait of Hormuz and that vessels must use it’s chosen routes.
The US believes it achieved a return to a free flow of maritime traffic.
Neither side wants to return to all-out war, but they’re also ready to keep punching to make their point.
Both are under pressure from hawkish hardliners within their ranks.
In the midst of this escalation, Trump has again used the phrase “they want to make a deal so badly” to describe Iran.
That’s usually a signal that, behind the scenes, mediators are working hard to cool tensions and keep them talking.
