LAST week, Iranian state media broadcast instructions on how citizens could stay safe in the event of a nuclear strike. The broadcast covered what people should do if caught in an atomic flash, tips on decontaminating clothes, and what families should keep ready in a ‘nuclear emergency bag’. In the midst of a spiralling regional conflict, this dystopian broadcast is a chilling reminder of how much worse it could get — and so, of how urgently de-escalation is required, particularly as the US and Israel enter a period of political uncertainty following respective elections.

De-escalation efforts are underway, with Qatar reportedly pushing hard for a negotiated end to the conflict. These negotiations hinge on Iran agreeing to reopen its nuclear programme to inspections and accepting curbs on enrichment levels in exchange for US sanctions relief. Such a negotiated end would be very welcome, given how the spectre of nuclear conflict increasingly haunts the Middle East.

One factor that could influence the way this de-escalation proceeds is how the US Congress, freshly stuffed with Democrats, may tackle the US-Saudi civilian nuclear agreement reached this summer. The agreement for civilian nuclear cooperation paves the way for the US........

© Dawn