Consider This from NPR How does diplomacy work during a military deadlock?
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May 3, 2026 
Suzanne DiMaggio, a Carnegie senior fellow who has negotiated quietly with adversarial states like North Korea and Iran, walks through diplomacy amid a military stalemate. She explains confidence-building steps the U.S. could take. She describes the role of intermediaries and secret preparatory talks. She outlines why meetings stalled and what a negotiation framework needs to look like.
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Iran's New 30 Day Proposal Signals Real Negotiation
- The talks are in a stalemate but Iran's new 14-point offer drops a prior precondition and proposes a 30-day negotiation for a permanent end to the war.
- Suzanne DiMaggio highlights Iran's shift from demanding blockade lifting first to seeking a realistic, concession-based deal over 30 days.
Action For Action Can Build Negotiating Confidence
- A reciprocal step-by-step confidence process can unblock talks: the U.S. could announce ending the blockade while Iran simultaneously opens the Strait and commits to negotiations.
- DiMaggio frames this as an action-for-action confidence-building mechanism.
Start With Secret Talks About Talks
- Use secret talks about talks to create a quiet space for adversaries to clarify intentions and parameters before public negotiations.
- DiMaggio cites Oman back-channel meetings before the JCPOA as a model that built trust and a roadmap.