US-Iran talks shadowed by threats

U.S.-Iran diplomacy is continuing, but the talks are taking place alongside public threats, hardening positions and a wider regional conflict that has not been contained. Iranian negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that any U.S. move to restart the war would bring “crushing, bitter” consequences, according to Iranian media reports carried by The Times of Israel. At the same time, Israeli officials told the New York Times, as cited by The Times of Israel, that Washington had “almost completely excluded” Israel from the negotiations. UK parliamentary briefings say the issues under discussion still include Iran’s nuclear program, ballistic missiles, sanctions and the Strait of Hormuz. ### Who is threatening what as talks continue? Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, identified by The Times of Israel as Iran’s top negotiator, said the United States was seeking to restart the war and still wanted the Islamic Republic to surrender. He said renewed conflict would bring “crushing, bitter” consequences if Washington “foolishly” restarted war. May 23 reporting from The Times of Israel also said President Donald Trump was weighing possible new strikes while seeking what it described as a “decisive” outcome, though no new military decision had been announced. (timesofisrael.com) That leaves the talks running in parallel with deterrent messaging from both sides rather than any public sign of trust. ### Why does Israel say it is being left out? (timesofisrael.com) Israeli officials told the New York Times, in an account cited by The Times of Israel on May 22-23, that the United States had “almost completely excluded” Israel from the Iran talks. The same report said Israeli officials were learning about developments through regional contacts and surveillance rather than direct participation. (timesofisrael.com) That matters because Israel has been a direct military participant in the 2026 conflict. A House of Commons Library briefing says Israel and the United States began strikes against Iran on February 28, 2026, and that Iran responded with counter-strikes against Israel, U.S. bases and other regional targets. ### What is the main sticking point in the nuclear talks? (timesofisrael.com) Reuters, as carried by The Jerusalem Post on May 21, reported that Iran’s supreme leader had directed that the country’s near-weapons-grade uranium should not be sent abroad. The report said two senior Iranian sources described that order as a harder Iranian position on one of the main U.S. demands in the talks. A separate House of Commons Library briefing published on April 24 said the 2026 talks cover Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs, U.S. sanctions and the security of the Strait of Hormuz. (commonslibrary.parliament.uk) Another UK parliamentary paper says shipping through the strait had fallen to about 5% of pre-conflict levels after the war, underlining why the waterway remains part of the negotiations. (jpost.com) ### How much bigger is this than a U.S.-Iran channel? A House of Commons Library briefing says the 2026 conflict cannot be reduced to a simple bilateral dispute because it has linked U.S.-Israeli strikes, Iranian retaliation and the Israel-Hezbollah front. The same briefing says a conditional ceasefire was declared on April 8, with talks mediated by Pakistan. (commonslibrary.parliament.uk) The regional picture has also been complicated by Gaza-related fallout. The Times of Israel news feed on May 23 linked to reports that flotilla activists detained after trying to breach Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza alleged abuse by Israeli forces. The source briefing for this story cited an Associated Press report carrying those allegations. ### What happens next? Pakistan is the named mediator in the ceasefire and nuclear talks, according to the House of Commons Library’s April briefing. (commonslibrary.parliament.uk) The next test is whether that channel produces movement on uranium disposition, sanctions and shipping security, or whether public threats and possible new strikes overtake the negotiating track. (commonslibrary.parliament.uk) (timesofisrael.com)