Several regional countries, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Turkey, and Egypt, are attempting to mediate between the United States and Iran to reduce escalating tensions and restart discussions on the nuclear agreement. According to Axios, officials from these nations held multiple phone calls with both sides on Wednesday to calm the situation and encourage renewed dialogue.

A regional source involved in the mediation said the first goal is to persuade both parties to de-escalate, followed by setting a date for expert-level talks on the nuclear deal. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Pakistan’s army chief that recent US attacks violated a memorandum of understanding between the two countries. Mediators believe recent incidents in the Strait of Hormuz were carried out by Iranian hardliners opposed to the US-Iran agreement.

Axios reported that despite recent clashes, the situation was calmer on Thursday. US officials said no new strikes occurred that day, attributing the pause to ongoing de-escalation efforts. The US administration remains committed to finding a resolution and continuing technical discussions on the nuclear issue.