Diplomacy in shadow ...
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The United States, if genuinely invested in global credibility and long-term stability, must understand that diplomacy cannot coexist with overt acts of war. Dialogue cannot be reestablished from a position of intimidation. True diplomacy requires mutual recognition, legal parity, and political will, not unilateral airstrikes.
The historical record offers relevant lessons. From US-Vietnam rapprochement to the normalization of relations with Cuba and strategic engagement with China, enduring hostilities have often yielded to dialogue when leaders accepted the limits of force. There is no intrinsic law of geopolitics that mandates permanent enmity. Hostility between nations is not destiny; it is a choice—and it can be unchosen.
The path forward requires more than rhetorical appeals. It demands innovation in diplomatic practice: Track II diplomacy, multilateral mediation, civil society dialogue, and a revitalized commitment to international institutions. Regional states and non-aligned countries can also play a constructive role in de-escalating tensions and fostering backchannel communication. The longer such mechanisms are delayed, the greater the risk of spiraling miscalculation.
Above all, this moment must be seen as a stress test for the post–Cold War international order. How the global community responds to the unlawful use of force by a permanent member of the UN Security Council will shape the credibility of international law for years to come. Will the rule of law prevail—or will power once again override legality?
Iran has made its choice clear: to remain within the framework of international law, to pursue redress through legal means, and to exercise strategic patience. The burden now rests with the United States. Is Washington prepared to reconsider its trajectory? Is it willing to abandon a failing policy of militarized coercion in favor of a responsible return to diplomacy?
The answers to these questions will not only determine the future of US-Iran relations—it may well define the next chapter of the global order itself.