Bangladesh, Feb. 7 -- In the history of diplomacy, there is a unique type of negotiation where the goal is the conversation itself rather than the agreement. The talks held recently in Muscat belong to this tradition. They represent not a breakthrough but a breakdown disguised as progress, not diplomacy but its elaborate simulation.

What unfolded in Omans capital wasnt merely another round of Middle Eastern shuttle diplomacy. It was performance art with geopolitical consequences, a carefully choreographed production staged by a regime that has elevated the art of negotiating in bad faith to doctrine. Iran doesnt come to the table to make deals; it arrives to make time.

Consider the historical precedent. Neville Chamberlain returned from...