Report: Proposal for a 10-Day Ceasefire Between Washington and Tehran

SadaNews - Mediators have presented a proposal to Iran for a ceasefire with the United States for 10 days, aimed at allowing space for efforts to revive the temporary agreement reached last month, according to a senior Iranian official who revealed this to Reuters today, Monday, amid ongoing diplomatic communications and an expanding war.

The official did not specify the identities of the mediators or the details of the proposal, but the Iranian agency "ISNA" later reported that Qatar and Pakistan made a joint proposal to Iran and the United States, urging both sides to return to their positions before July 9, describing it as a first step towards resuming negotiations.

The proposal comes after the memorandum of understanding signed by Washington and Tehran on June 17 was disrupted, which called for negotiations on the Iranian nuclear file and other issues, in preparation for reaching a final agreement to end the war. However, the resumption of hostilities practically derailed the path initiated by the memorandum.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on July 9 the end of the ceasefire, while extensive strikes resumed, before mediators returned to suggest a temporary ceasefire that would allow for the resumption of diplomatic channels.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei confirmed that Tehran has received messages and proposals from mediating parties in recent days, without disclosing their content.

Baghaei said at a press conference in Tehran that Iran "received messages" and that "ideas were conveyed to us through some mediators," adding: "The important thing is that the diplomatic apparatus has been active in recent days." He refused to detail the proposals, stating: "I will not disclose the details at this time."

He clarified that Iran deals with any negotiating path based on the principle of "commitment for commitment," stating that Tehran has adhered to the memorandum of understanding it signed with Washington last month, and that it "never initiated breaking promises as long as the other parties fulfill their obligations."

He added that "any agreement only gains value if both parties fulfill it," accusing the United States of not honoring its commitments, noting that Iran gradually suspended its obligations in response to what he described as "the American breach of promise."

Baghaei affirmed that the mediators' movements aim to prevent further deterioration, but stressed that the diplomatic path does not mean halting Iran's military response. He stated that the Iranian armed forces continue to target "sources of American aggression," while the diplomatic apparatus is working "in harmony and full coordination with the armed forces in defending the homeland."

He warned that any additional escalatory steps from the United States would be met with a similar Iranian response, emphasizing that Tehran will not hesitate to take action to stop American attacks.

In Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the United States remains open to a diplomatic solution, despite continuing airstrikes on Iran for the ninth consecutive night.

Rubio told reporters before departing for Manila to attend the ASEAN summit that "the United States remains always open to a diplomatic solution," adding: "We have tried repeatedly with Iran, and we will continue to try. If this door opens, we will be happy with that."

However, he considered that the continuation of Iranian attacks on ships and disruption of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz undermines the memorandum of understanding, stating: "The memorandum cannot remain in effect if they violate its terms."

He added that Iranians "continue to send signals that they want dialogue and negotiation, but we respond to their behavior, which is launching missiles and drones at ships." In response to a question regarding the possibility of failure of diplomatic efforts, Rubio said this "would not be in Iran's interest," referring to the difficult economic situation in the country.

Qatar and Pakistan at the Forefront of Initiatives

Doha has emerged as a key center for communications aimed at halting the deteriorating situation. The Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, met on Sunday with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, discussing "the diplomatic efforts and joint coordination to reduce escalation and enhance security and stability in the region," according to a Qatari statement.

The Emir also met with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi, and both sides emphasized the necessity for all parties to commit to dialogue and diplomacy, and to implement what was agreed upon in the memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran, which includes ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and enhancing regional stability.

The announcement of the Qatari-Pakistani proposal coincided with the Iranian Interior Minister, Eskandar Momeni, heading to Islamabad at the head of a delegation that includes representatives from several Iranian ministries and executive agencies, at the invitation of his Pakistani counterpart, Mohsen Naqvi.

The visit agenda includes files on bilateral relations, border and economic cooperation, transportation, and agriculture, amid Iranian efforts to increase trade volume with Pakistan from three to ten billion dollars annually. The visit comes at a time when Islamabad is playing a mediating role between Tehran and Washington.

Momeni is expected to head to New Delhi after that to participate in a meeting of interior ministers and emergency officials from BRICS member countries regarding reducing the risks of natural disasters.

In the context of regional initiatives, it is anticipated that Iraqi Prime Minister Al-Zaidi will begin a tour at the end of the week that includes Iran, Turkey, Syria, and Saudi Arabia, accompanied by ministers and security and economic officials.

According to an Iraqi official, the tour aims to convey a message that Baghdad seeks to distance itself from any new alignments in the region, in addition to discussing security, political, and economic understandings with the countries included in the visit.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi had made a phone call with his Iraqi counterpart Foad Hussein in an attempt to contain the repercussions of statements made by the Iranian Supreme Leader's advisor for international affairs, Ali Akbar Velayati, against the Iraqi Prime Minister. Araqchi described those statements as "personal and unofficial."

Expanding Strikes Alongside Mediation

Diplomatic efforts are moving amid the ongoing war and the expansion of American strikes inside Iran. Iranian President Masoud Beizaghian stated that his country is engaged in a "comprehensive war" with the United States.

He added, according to a statement from the Iranian presidency, that "the reality is that the Islamic Republic of Iran is involved in a comprehensive war," considering that his country must "be realistic and accept the natural repercussions of this resistance."

American strikes extended in the last week from southern Iran to its central and northwestern areas. Local officials reported one person killed and others injured on Monday in strikes on Tabriz, more than a thousand kilometers from the Gulf, while injuries were reported in the city of Urmia.

Iran also announced that several cities have been targeted, including Bushehr, which hosts the only operational nuclear power plant in the country, while stating that the Darakhuin nuclear plant, still under construction, was targeted on Sunday. Washington claims that its operations target military sites.

According to the latest official toll announced by the Iranian Health Ministry, fifty people have been killed and more than 500 injured since the resumption of fighting in early July. No accurate toll is available for the victims of the previous phase of the war that erupted on February 28, before the ceasefire that began on April 8 and did not last long.

In contrast, Iran continued targeting American sites and countries allied with Washington. Bahraini authorities announced that Iranian drones targeted civilian air navigation systems, while the Kuwaiti army stated that it thwarted a new attack by Iranian drones.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard also announced the targeting of American military infrastructure in Al-Tanf in Syria, and the targeting of American planes in Aqaba, Jordan.

Two American soldiers were killed on Friday in an Iranian strike that targeted a military base in Jordan, while remains believed to belong to a third soldier who was missing were found at the site, according to U.S. Central Command.

Another American soldier was killed on Saturday during the detonation of unexploded ordnance from an Iranian drone downed in northern Iraq, raising the death toll of American military personnel since the outbreak of war to 17.