ADVERTISEMENT
Washington awoke to political shockwaves after a dramatic overnight development appeared to shift the course of the escalating confrontation with Iran. For weeks, the White House had projected an uncompromising stance, demanding major concessions from Tehran and signaling that the United States was prepared to intensify pressure if necessary. Officials repeatedly emphasized strength and warned that Iran would face serious consequences if tensions continued to rise. Then, shortly after midnight, a development thousands of miles away in Moscow seemed to change the direction of the crisis.
