Trita Parsi of the Quincy Institute joins Ryan Grim and Murtaza Hussein to analyze the growing risks of a “lose-lose” war between the U.S. and Iran. As oil prices, sanctions dynamics, and regional tensions shift, the conflict may be creating more problems than it solves for both sides.

Axios reports:

Iranian officials have told the countries trying to mediate peace talks with the U.S. that they have now been tricked twice by President Trump and “we don’t want to be fooled again,” according to a source with direct knowledge of those discussions.

The big picture: The U.S. is pushing for in-person peace talks as soon as Thursday in Islamabad, Pakistan. But during the two previous rounds of U.S.-Iran talks, Trump green lit crippling surprise attacks while still claiming to be seeking a deal.

Flashback: Israel attacked Iran with Trump’s backing last June, days before a planned round of nuclear talks.

• Then three weeks ago, the U.S. and Iran reached a tentative agreement in Geneva to continue talks the following week — two days before the U.S. and Israel attacked.

Behind the scenes: Iranian officials have told the mediators — Pakistan, Egypt and Turkey — that U.S. military movements and Trump’s decision to deploy major troop reinforcements have increased their suspicion that his proposal for peace talks is just a ruse. [Continue reading…]

NPR reports:

Iran has rejected President Trump’s plan for ending the war and presented five conditions of its own.

The English branch of Iran’s state broadcaster, Press TV, reported the response, citing an Iranian senior political security official, and Iranian embassies shared the government’s demands on social media as well.

The conditions include safeguards against future attacks on Iran, the payment of war reparations to the country and a recognition of Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz. [Continue reading…]