Mediators proudly declared that the first round of U.S.-Iran talks produced progress toward a final deal in 60 days. The only detail they left out is that negotiators spent most of the time re-arguing points that were supposed to be settled years ago.
This is the new standard for diplomatic success: calling repeated loops around the same table "dwelled" discussions rather than admitting nothing moved. The challenges listed in the readout read like a greatest-hits album of past failures, now rebranded as evidence that serious work happened.
In practice it amounts to both sides agreeing the venue looks nice while the actual disputes remain untouched. The 60-day timeline functions less as a deadline and more as a polite way to schedule the next round of the same arguments.
