LEILA FADEL, HOST:
Iran is vowing retaliation after the U.S. fired on and seized an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel that refused to comply with its blockade on the Strait of Hormuz. Here's sound from a video released by the U.S. Central Command.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: Vacate your engine room. Vacate your engine room. We're prepared to subject you to disabling fire.
(SOUNDBITE OF SHIP HORN)
MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:
Marines ended up boarding the ship, which is now in U.S. custody. It was the latest escalation in a weekend of rising tensions and renewed threats from President Trump. In a few minutes, we'll ask a former U.S. deputy special envoy for Iran about what paths for diplomacy remain. But first, we want to take a look at the political stakes.
FADEL: We are joined now by NPR senior political correspondent Tamara Keith to unpack all this. Good morning, Tam.
TAMARA KEITH, BYLINE: Good morning.
FADEL: OK. So the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran is set to expire Wednesday. But, Tam, this feels like it's all falling apart. Is it?
KEITH: We'll find out. Even before the U.S. took custody of that Iranian ship, President Trump and Iranian officials had been trading accusations about violating the ceasefire. Still, Trump announced that he was sending a team of negotiators to Pakistan today for in-person talks to end the war. A White House official tells NPR the team will be led by Vice President JD Vance and Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner. But as of this moment, Vance hasn't yet left Washington. And in that same social media post Trump announced the talks, he also issued new threats. Quote, "We're offering a very fair and reasonable deal, and I hope they take it because if they don't, the United States is going to knock out every single power plant and every single bridge in Iran. No more Mr. Nice Guy," all caps, exclamation point.
FADEL: I mean, if President Trump wants a deal so badly, why is he again threatening to bomb civilian infrastructure, and targeting civilian infrastructure would be a war crime?
KEITH: He's trying to achieve maximum leverage with maximalist threats, but we've seen this movie before - in fact, just two weeks ago. Remember the Easter post about Power Plant and Bridge Day?
FADEL: Yeah.
KEITH: Then, with just 90 minutes before his self-imposed deadline, Trump announced the U.S. would agree to a ceasefire. That ceasefire is now getting close to expiring, and there's been very little visible progress towards a lasting peace deal.
FADEL: OK. So if these negotiations happen, do you know what the Trump administration is looking to get out of them?
KEITH: Well, the president needs the Strait of Hormuz reopened to stabilize oil markets, but it's a key piece of leverage Iran has gained in this war. Trump also set a red line at Iran's nuclear program. He doesn't want Iran enriching uranium, and he wants to take possession of the material Iran still has. But also, Trump is just looking for a way to declare a win and get out of this war. He's been claiming it was nearly over for weeks now. But reality is a stubborn thing, and Iran gets a say in whether this conflict ends or not.
FADEL: What are the political consequences for Trump if this drags on?
KEITH: The average price of gas is hovering near $4 a gallon for regular. At an event last week, Trump said the high prices are, quote, "fake inflation," but it is real and it is affecting real people. I interviewed a Trump supporter who said he's basically stopped driving his pickup truck because diesel prices are so high and has taken up fasting as a way to spend less on food. He trusts Trump to turn this around, but at some point, people are going to run out of patience.
FADEL: That's NPR's Tamara Keith. Thank you, Tam.
KEITH: You're welcome. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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