Bangladesh, May 1 -- After three rounds of indirect US-Iran talks in Oman and Italy – with more planned – a clear pattern has emerged: both sides are probing what is possible without locking themselves into rigid conditions. This cautious dance reflects Irans longstanding preference for negotiations that leave room for maneuver, and an American administration – light on depth but heavy on the need for perceived victories – that is desperate to showcase its ability to “close the deal,” a legacy notion associated with President Donald Trump. Yet so far, tangible progress remains elusive.

What has been publicly acknowledged is that these meetings have been “positive and productive,” a diplomat...