Over the course of a few days, between a golf outing and a visit to the home of Elvis Presley, US President Donald Trump has said contrasting statements on the US-Israel war with Iran: That he is "winding down" the operation, yet he also threatened to "obliterate" Iran’s power plants unless Tehran lifted its blockade in the Strait of Hormuz.
He then postponed those strikes, saying there had been constructive talks with Iran. Iranian officials have denied that any contact with the US had taken place.
A growing list of countries are said to be trying to mediate between Washington and Tehran, including Pakistan, Turkey and Egypt. And there are reports that Vice-President JD Vance, an outspoken opponent of long wars, could join the negotiations – which some analysts say is a possible change of strategy.
What is next in President Trump’s plan for ending the war? Is there an exit strategy?
We speak to the BBC’s North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher, who travelled with the president to Graceland.
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