“talks in Islamabad [collapsed] on April 11-12”

“On April 28, Iran submitted a 14-point counterproposal calling for a permanent end to hostilities within 30 days, a US withdrawal from areas near its borders, the lifting of a US naval blockade, the release of frozen assets, war reparations, and a new mechanism governing the Strait of Hormuz”

“Washington responded early May with its own plan... [including] a 20-year moratorium on uranium enrichment, the transfer abroad of Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium, estimated at roughly 400kg (882 pounds) enriched to 60 percent, and the dismantling of nuclear facilities at Natanz, Isfahan and Fordow”

“Iran’s right to enrichment has been recognised under the NPT”

“Israel... has not signed [the NPT]”

“the US withdrawal from the JCPOA in 2018”

“Naqvi was the third senior Pakistani official to visit Tehran in recent weeks, following army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir’s late April trip and an earlier joint visit by Munir and Naqvi”

“consultations with Oman were continuing, including expert-level talks in Muscat focused on guaranteeing safe navigation through Hormuz”

“US military assessments published by The New York Times said Iran had restored operational access to 30 of its 33 missile sites along the Strait of Hormuz”

“CNN reported that the US Pentagon had prepared target lists that included Iranian energy and infrastructure facilities”

“Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi, spokesman for Iran’s Armed Forces, warned on May 17 that any repeat of US military action... would trigger “more crushing and intense strikes””

“Trump had travelled to Beijing last week”

“China had also instructed domestic companies the previous week to defy US sanctions targeting refiners purchasing Iranian crude”

“At a meeting of the BRICS coalition of economies in New Delhi on May 15, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi acknowledged receiving messages from Washington”