{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/b2fb5f0b-0ce7-4e5c-b6e0-9b1febd06aea/69fb5aa7921510d4c186c288?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Iran war: what a deal could look like - and why Trump blinked first","description":"<p>On Wednesday, in the midst of a tentative ceasefire, Iran issued what could be the first step in a deal with the US over the Strait of Hormuz.</p><p><br></p><p>Meanwhile Iran’s foreign minister was in Beijing meeting China’s top diplomat who urged an end to the blockade of the vital waterway and an end to the war. Could a peace deal finally be in sight?</p><p><br></p><p>And why did German chancellor Friedrich Merz torpedo his relationship with US president Donald Trump by saying “an entire nation is being humiliated by the Iranian leadership”? Was it a tactical move by the German leader or was he shooting his mouth off? And at what cost?</p><p><br></p><p>Also, with Trump set to visit Chinese president Xi next week, what will be on the agenda for this meeting of two of the globe’s strong men?</p><p>Denis Staunton, Beijing correspondent and author of the Irish Times daily Global Briefing newsletter, considers the issues.</p><p><br></p><p>Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon.&nbsp;</p>","author_name":"The Irish Times"}