New Delhi, April 21 -- The sudden twists in West Asia peace talks underscore just how fluid the situation is. On Friday, Iran showed some keenness to engage with the US as it declared the Strait of Hormuz open, but only to slam it shut again the next day.

Since then, Tehran has professed itself unready to hold truce talks with the US. Not only was America making excessive and shifting demands, it argued, its blockade of Iranian ports was a violation of the ceasefire due to expire only on 22 April.

To make matters between the two adversaries worse, this week began with armed US action against an Iranian commercial vessel. A furious Tehran took that as a provocation it could not let pass, calling off parleys in Pakistan's capital with an ...