Trita Parsi | China could break the US-Iran diplomatic deadlock | Tom Switzer

The Iranian regime demonstrates significant tenacity in the face of severe economic pressure and sanctions, suggesting that the government is not on the brink of collapse. While the current conflict imposes immense costs on the population, the regime views the struggle as existential, contrasting with the American perspective of an optional war. Trita Parsi, an expert from the Quincy Institute, argues that economic sanctions historically fail to induce desired policy shifts in Tehran. As tensions escalate toward a potentially more destructive third round of war, China emerges as a unique diplomatic actor capable of breaking the deadlock. By acting as a guarantor for negotiations, Beijing could leverage its influence with both Washington and Tehran to prevent a global energy crisis and a further descent into a more ferocious, deadly conflict.