Regardless of ceasefire or not, the Middle East’s realignment is far from over. 11 hours earlier. Jeremy Bowen, BBC International Editor. The greatest prospect for the ceasefire negotiations in Pakistan lies in the fact that both the United States and Iran have compelling motives to end the war. The greatest barrier to their success is a complete lack of trust, no apparent common ground, and Israel’s massive escalation of its attacks on Lebanon, as America’s full partner in the war. US President Donald Trump is already referring to the war in the past tense. He proclaims victory and requires a way out. He has a state visit from King Charles scheduled for later this month, followed by a summit with China’s President Xi Jinping in May, plus midterm elections in November. As America’s summer vacation season approaches, Trump also needs gasoline prices to drop back to pre-war levels.
