MOSCOW, May 7. /TASS/. Iran and the US seem to have taken a significant first step toward concluding the conflict; Kiev has violated the ceasefire it has proposed itself; and Washington has spent quite a fortune on Operation Epic Fury without achieving significant results. These stories topped Thursday’s newspaper headlines across Russia.
Iran and the US are close to signing a symbolic memorandum on the cessation of hostilities. The document is expected to resolve a number of contentious issues and pave the way for a long-term settlement. However, the situation remains fragile and largely uncertain. The White House's decision to temporarily suspend Operation Project Freedom - which was launched to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz - did not fully ease the situation. Experts agree that a complete end to the standoff between Tehran and Washington is still far off.
Washington’s decision should be interpreted as part of a multi-layered political and psychological "game," political analyst Dastan Tokoldoshev told Izvestia. "By demonstratively lowering the level of tension, US President Donald Trump’s team is seeking to convince the international community and Tehran of its goodwill. It also aims to show Congress that it does not want to engage in confrontation without substantial reason while maintaining the intention to defend the country’s foreign policy goals and interests," the expert emphasized.
