This latest concession follows the recent discovery that Iran continues to smuggle weapons and narcotics into Yemen, despite a March agreement with the Saudi government to taper off its support for the Houthi rebel group. It comes amid growing tensions between Israel and Iran-sponsored terrorist organizations Hezbollah and Hamas. And it comes as the Pentagon dispatches U.S. warships and fighter jets to the region amid Iran’s audacious efforts to hijack commercial shipping vessels in the Persian Gulf.

Nevertheless, the Biden administration remains committed to the diminishing returns it receives from its efforts to engage with the theocratic regime in Tehran. It’s unclear what, if anything, could convince this White House of its folly.

[One has to also wonder how much of this policy got driven by Robert Malley, and also wonder what is happening with his status at the moment. He’s been suspended for some reason relating to classified material, but the nature of the violation(s) has not been revealed. This week, CNN noted the potential impact on Iranian policy that could come if Malley is permanently sidelined, although presumably those impacts would be entirely salutary. So far, though, it seems nothing much has changed. — Ed]