Should the US engage in direct diplomacy with groups like Hezbollah and Iran?

Context

Direct diplomacy with Iran and groups like Hezbollah remains one of the most contentious foreign policy questions, pitting those who believe engagement can reduce conflict against those who view these actors as implacable adversaries. The debate intensified after decades of US sanctions, proxy conflicts, and periodic military escalations in the Middle East, with recent years seeing both diplomatic overtures (like the 2015 nuclear deal) and renewed tensions. Today's question hinges on whether talking to adversaries reduces or enables threats, and whether the US should negotiate with designated terrorist organizations.