Pakistan and Qatar are mounting an urgent diplomatic push to rescue the fragile U.S.-Iran ceasefire agreement as renewed military exchanges threaten to derail months of mediation and push the Middle East deeper into conflict.
Unlike previous rounds of regional diplomacy, the immediate objective is to preserve the 60-day U.S.-Iran ceasefire framework, restore commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and create conditions for the resumption of broader negotiations, including a long-term nuclear agreement.
The renewed crisis has unfolded as missiles crossed the Gulf in recent days, reviving a familiar pattern in which regional powers have stepped in to prevent wider confrontation. But this time, mediators face the added challenge of saving an agreement reached only after extensive diplomatic efforts involving several countries.
🚫 CLAIM: The Iranian commander for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Navy recently said on state-owned media that no foreign vessels may pass through the Strait of Hormuz without being identified, tracked, and monitored by Iranian forces.
✅ FACT: Iran does not control the… pic.twitter.com/8lRDNiOpXQ
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 12, 2026
Amid U.S. strikes carried out in response to Iranian attacks on commercial vessels, Tehran has declared that the Strait of Hormuz is now effectively closed to traffic, raising fears of a prolonged disruption to one of the world’s most important maritime trade routes.
According to U.S. publication Axios, citing sources from countries involved in the mediation effort and a U.S. official, regional mediators are working to de-escalate the crisis and revive talks aimed at securing a long-term nuclear agreement.
President Donald Trump said Washington would keep diplomatic channels open but also declared that the U.S.-Iran memorandum and ceasefire were effectively “over” following the latest escalation.
The United States has carried out three waves of strikes against Iranian defense infrastructure after Tehran launched attacks targeting commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 held a telephone conversation today with His Excellency Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran. @araghchi
Both leaders exchanged views on the evolving regional… pic.twitter.com/WuRxnROwwp
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) July 12, 2026
In an effort to restore dialogue, Qatari officials travelled to Iran on Friday in coordination with Washington to meet senior Iranian officials and explore ways to reduce tensions and create conditions for negotiations to resume.
A diplomat familiar with the discussions said meetings between Qatari and Iranian officials in Mashhad remain ongoing.
“It is clear both sides want to return to the framework of the MoU,” the diplomat said.
The diplomatic effort has expanded beyond Doha. Officials from Qatar, Pakistan, Türkiye, Egypt and Saudi Arabia have held a series of telephone consultations with both Washington and Tehran over the past several days in an attempt to prevent further escalation.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also spoke with Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, saying that recent U.S. military strikes and Washington’s statements represented violations of the memorandum, according to a statement posted on his Telegram channel.
On Sunday, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held a telephone conversation with Araghchi, urging restraint and calling for an immediate return to diplomacy.
According to Pakistan’s Foreign Office, the two leaders discussed the rapidly evolving regional situation following fresh U.S. strikes on Iran and Tehran’s retaliatory attacks on U.S. military assets across the Gulf.
Dar stressed the importance of all sides honoring the June 2026 Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, the 14-point interim peace agreement signed by the United States and Iran with Pakistan serving as a mediator.
Pakistan has been acting as one of the principal diplomatic players since the conflict erupted on February 28, working alongside regional partners to contain the fighting, prevent a wider war and restore stability after hostilities disrupted energy markets and maritime trade through the Strait of Hormuz.
President Trump met senior national security advisers on Thursday to assess the situation and discuss possible next steps.
Following the meeting, a U.S. official said the administration remained committed to achieving a diplomatic resolution.
“We are still committed to finding a resolution, and technical-level talks continue with the objective of reaching a nuclear agreement,” the official said.
However, the official accused Tehran of undermining the agreement.
“President Trump made his position absolutely clear. Iran’s attacks on innocent commercial vessels are acts of terrorism. The MoU is performance-based, and Iran’s actions constitute an unacceptable breach of its commitments,” the official added.
The diplomatic crisis has also taken on a more personal and dangerous dimension after reports of Iranian-linked assassination threats against President Donald Trump. Trump responded by warning that any such attempt would bring devastating consequences for Iran, further raising tensions as mediators seek to prevent the collapse of the ceasefire framework.
The crisis has been further complicated by a growing dispute over navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
Oman informed the United Nations on Thursday that it opposes any proposal to impose transit or service fees on commercial vessels using the strategic waterway, marking a significant policy difference with neighboring Iran.
The announcement followed weeks of discussions between Iranian and Omani officials over a possible framework for managing maritime traffic through the strait.
While Tehran has argued that commercial vessels should contribute to the cost of navigation and security services, Muscat has rejected charging ships merely for exercising their internationally recognized right of passage.
The renewed hostilities have also heightened concerns over global energy security as commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains severely disrupted. The waterway is one of the world’s most important energy corridors, carrying a significant share of global seaborne oil and gas shipments.
The disruption has already increased shipping risks, pushed up insurance costs and added volatility to energy markets. Analysts warn that a prolonged closure or restricted passage through the strait could further raise crude prices, increase inflationary pressures and threaten energy supplies for major importing economies, particularly in Asia.
Muhammad Luqman is Associate Editor at Views News Now. He writes on wide-ranging issues including economy, South Asia, the Middle East, agriculture, economy and innovation. Luqman has worked some of the leading news organizations and won acclaim for his original and research-based works.
