Regional powers are ramping up diplomatic efforts to salvage the nuclear agreement between the United States and Iran amid a sharp escalation in tensions, Axios reported on Thursday, citing sources involved in the negotiations.
According to the outlet, Qatar, Pakistan, and several other regional mediators have held talks with American and Iranian officials aimed at reducing tensions and restarting negotiations on the nuclear deal.
These initiatives come after President Donald Trump declared the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the U.S. and Iran, along with the ceasefire regime, “invalid” and ordered two rounds of airstrikes.
Despite the hardening rhetoric, Trump remains focused on restoring navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and preventing a broader conflict with Iran, Axios reported, quoting a U.S. official.
According to the publication, officials from Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia held numerous phone conversations with both sides on Wednesday, seeking to prevent the collapse of the memorandum. The mediators believe that previous rounds of negotiations have yielded tangible progress toward finalizing a nuclear agreement.
A U.S. official told Axios that the administration remains committed to finding a diplomatic resolution, and technical talks on the nuclear deal are ongoing, even as Washington insists that Iran’s recent attacks on commercial vessels have violated the terms of the memorandum.
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