US-Iran stalemate may likely continue

Although the US and Iran have stationed warships at the Hormuz strait, neither country really wants to start a war because military conflicts are not in their interests.

Iran seems to continue flexing muscles amid tensions. It has been conducting manoeuvres and launching ballistic and cruise missiles, while two warships entered the Mediterranean Sea over the weekend. It also showed off its "breakthrough" nuclear program for "civilian use" ahead of nuclear talks on Monday. But the true purpose is to gain chips in bargaining.

For the past two months, Iran has taken many measures to ease tensions. Besides renewing an invitation for IAEA experts, Iran also conveyed a message to the EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, saying that "returning to the negotiation table would be the best means to broaden cooperation between the two sides."