US enlists Austria and Greece to break Iran war deadlock

The Trump administration has quietly added Austria and Greece to its widening diplomatic contacts with Iran, as talks to end the war remain stalled and Tehran holds a harder line. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Austria’s foreign minister in Washington on Tuesday and spoke to Greece’s top diplomat on Wednesday, though official readouts did not name Iran. Both European ministers then spoke with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Thursday, according to their respective foreign ministries. The State Department says Rubio did not request either country to contact Iran, but one European diplomat, speaking anonymously, told newindianexpress.com that the timing was not an accident.

Analysts said the outreach reflects desperation over the conflict's economic fallout rather than a formal mediation. "Everyone is just urging both sides to stop this reckless game of chicken," Newindianexpress.com quoted Ali Vaez of the International Crisis Group as saying. The immediate US goal has shifted to reopening the Strait of Hormuz, where a fifth of the world's oil transits. "Goal number one: keep oil and gas cheap for Americans," Vice President JD Vance said on Fox News. India Today reports that the US also still wants to ensure Iran never gets a nuclear weapon.

Meanwhile, Livemint.com says Iran is pushing its own terms for reopening the strait. According to Iran's Fars news agency, a draft Iran-Oman deal would let Tehran bar US and Israeli ships and require compensation from hostile countries. The proposed agreement is under review in Iran's parliament, but it is unclear if it has the approval of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who remains in hiding since the February US-Israeli strikes. Oil prices rose Thursday on the reports, with Brent crude above $82 a barrel.