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Pakistan and Qatar have intensified diplomatic exchanges between the U.S. and Iran after both sides responded to a joint proposal aimed at ending their months-long war, Pakistani government sources told Anadolu on Sunday.
The development followed U.S. President Donald Trump’s order to pause the latest bombing campaign against Iran after two consecutive weeks of nightly strikes, the sources said.
Islamabad and Doha proposed a joint de-escalation formula earlier this week, calling on Washington and Tehran to return to the positions they held before July 9 as an initial step toward restarting stalled negotiations and permanently ending the conflict.
The sources did not disclose details of the responses but said both sides had expressed support for dialogue and diplomacy to end the latest hostilities and return to negotiations.
The halt in strikes by both sides has raised hopes that the stalled talks could resume, according to the sources.
One source cautioned that the pause remained fragile, with a strong possibility of violations or another escalation around the nearly closed Strait of Hormuz.
“Mediators are in constant contact with the two warring sides to consolidate the pause, which is their first priority to clear the way for the next rounds of their de-escalation formula,” the source said.
A diplomatic source separately told Anadolu that mediators were particularly concerned about hard-line figures on both sides who could reignite the fighting.
The New York Times reported Saturday that Trump had paused plans to escalate military operations against Iran amid concerns over declining U.S. air defense missile stocks.
The decision followed a Friday meeting with senior advisers and Cabinet officials.
The de-escalation plan was jointly drafted by Pakistan and Qatar after consultations with regional partners.
It calls on the U.S. and Iran to return to the positions they held before the latest hostilities began.
Iran confirmed that it had received proposals from mediators to reduce tensions and was reviewing them while reaffirming its commitment to diplomacy despite continued exchanges of fire.
Pakistan previously mediated a ceasefire in April and helped the U.S. and Iran reach a memorandum of understanding last month aimed at ending the conflict and securing a lasting peace agreement.
Tensions rose again earlier this month over navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
Under the proposal, Iran would immediately reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
The U.S. would end its renewed blockade of Iranian ports and lift sanctions on Iranian oil sales, according to the sources.
The plan also includes a two-week ceasefire.
If Washington and Tehran accept the proposal, negotiations would resume immediately, the sources said.
The implementation of a ceasefire in southern Lebanon would also be placed near the top of the negotiating agenda.
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