OpinionMiddle East warFresh violence between Iran and the US have taken the region ever closer to a dangerous knife-edge which could see an explosion of all-out war or settlement - both a nightmare for Trump10:20, 28 May 2026Fresh strikes between American forces and Iran have shattered hopes of an imminent re-opening of the Strait of Hormuz.‌But they do indicate peace talks veering towards a tipping point which could go either way - peace or another bloody all -out war. US forces struck Iranian military targets on the coastal town of Bandar Abbas and Tehran responded with claims it had attacked an American base.‌The US airstrike was in response to an Iranian attack on a US commercial vessel from four drones- all of which were intercepted. Air defences were activated in and around Kuwait, signalling a US base there had been aimed at by Tehran’s missile teams. All of this points to an extremely dangerous point in the crisis, nearing a critical point which could mean a resumption of all-out war.‌But typically of this war-battered region, an explosion of violence does not mean an end to the peace talks that are ongoing behind-the-scenes. Conversely it could indicate the US is close to settling a deal, as telegraphed loudly for the past week by Washington, although not so much by Tehran.‌Both sides are keen for an end to this war. Iran is showing conciliation towards its increasingly outraged and economically-hit public, releasing controls of the internet and in the US because the war is a political catastrophe for President Trump.‌Washington and Tehran are thought to be in the final stages of drafting a memorandum of understanding, even though each has demands incompatible with the other. It is thought the US is now unwilling to swap the release of sanctions for Tehran’s enriched uranium that it is keen to get its hands on to stop Iran’s nuclear programme.And we do not know if the US will pivot away from Israel by acceding to Tehran’s demands that Lebanon is included in a peace settlement, thus shielding Hezbollah. This would not lead to lasting peace between Israel and Hezbollah and nor would it remove the threat to Israel from the Lebanese militant group’s missiles.‌There is a huge tension growing between Washington and Israel over this uncertainty - Tehran wanting to protect its proxy in Lebanon and Israel very keen for this not to happen. And whilst none of the rumours coming out of negotiations between the two sides indicate Iran and the US are on the same page regarding the nuclear issue, talks are ongoing.Iran is testing the US, sensing a vulnerability in Trump’s desperation for an off-ramp and it will likely prod the American military even further. Trump’s demands for the region to accept the Abraham Accords which would normalise relations between Israel and the rest of the Middle East have been met with silence.Article continues belowThis has been hugely significant for Tehran which is watching the reaction of its neighbouring states intently - and sensing a rejection of outright support for Trump. This will mean a tense period which could tip the region towards war or reach a settlement of sorts, possibly kicking the nuclear issue down the road and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.And that points towards a resounding humiliation for President Trump that would mean his war has achieved nothing and put Iran in a stronger position than it was under the Obama administration which introduced the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA- which Trump tore up.Chris HughesChris Hughes is the Daily Mirror's award-winning Defence and Security Editor. Chris won UK Press Awards Specialist Journalist of the year in 2013. As an experienced war correspondent he has reported from frontlines in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Korea, Pakistan and Ukraine. As well as commenting on the military and geopolitics he also specialises in covering terrorism and the intelligence world. He has reported on terror attacks globally including 9-11 in the US and throughout Europe, Asia and Africa. Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌HezbollahMiddle EastBarack ObamaIranMiddle East war