A group of mediator countries, including Qatar, Egypt, and Pakistan, has put forward a new initiative: to propose a ten-day ceasefire to the United States and Iran. According to the Axios portal, Washington is studying the plan, while its allies, including Israel, are urging it not to close the “diplomatic window.” At the same time, the Trump administration is preparing for a possible breakdown of talks—over the past few days, dozens of fighter jets and aerial refueling aircraft have been deployed to the region.
The initiative comes amid sharp escalation: the United States’ bombing campaign against Iranian targets has now lasted for ten nights. In addition, three American servicemen were killed in Jordan and Iraq. On Monday, President Donald Trump said he ordered the Pentagon to make Iran pay a “double price” for every American killed. Israeli sources report that the army is on the highest state of readiness and is preparing for a possible expansion of the war in the coming days.
The proposal itself consists of two key points. First, a complete cessation of hostilities. Second, a resumption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which would involve splitting routes: the southern corridor (through Omani waters) must be free from Iranian attacks, while the northern one (in Iranian waters) must be free from an American naval blockade. According to a regional source, the mediators have already conveyed this plan both to Washington and to Tehran.
The initiative builds on consultations held in Muscat on July 11, when the United States demanded that Iran publicly commit to keeping the strait open. No agreement was reached then, and soon afterward attacks on merchant vessels followed, followed in turn by retaliatory airstrikes. As part of a possible longer-term settlement, one option being discussed is that Iran could charge a “reasonable service fee” for ensuring navigation security—similar to the Malacca Strait model. An alternative would be to route these fees into a common fund under the auspices of the International Maritime Organization.
Although preliminary talks began even before the deaths of two American soldiers in Jordan from Iranian strikes, after the incident Washington temporarily stepped away from dialogue. A senior U.S. official confirmed that talks are continuing, but Trump has “not finished” his retaliatory actions and intends to make Iran pay for “terrorist acts in the Strait of Hormuz.” According to regional sources, the White House may continue bombing for several more days before seriously considering the new ceasefire proposal. Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for its part, said that the mediators are actively working to prevent further escalation.
Comments on the news
Why exactly are Qatar, Egypt, and Pakistan acting as mediators between the US and Iran? What special interests or historical ties do they have in this conflict?
Qatar traditionally plays the role of a neutral negotiator thanks to its close ties both with the United States (the largest U.S. military base in the region) and with Iran (a shared gas field and support for Islamist groups). Egypt, as a key U.S. ally in the Arab world, is used as a channel to pass messages through its intelligence services, particularly in the context of stabilizing the Middle East. Pakistan is involved mainly for religious and ideological reasons (Sunni-Shia dialogue) and because of its own nuclear status—allowing it to help on nonproliferation issues and regional balance.What is the “Malacca Strait model,” and how could it be applied to the Strait of Hormuz to regulate shipping and collect fees?
The “Malacca Strait model” is a system for joint shipping management in which coastal states (Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore), in cooperation with international organizations, ensure security and environmental monitoring, and also collect fees for passage and services (pilotage, navigation systems). Applying it to the Strait of Hormuz would imply creating a similar multilateral mechanism involving Iran, Oman, and neighboring countries, which would make the fees legitimate and reduce the risk of unilateral blockades.What has been Oman’s historical role in US-Iran relations, and why did negotiations on the Strait of Hormuz take place specifically in Muscat?
For decades, Oman has served as a trusted intermediary between the United States and Iran due to its neutrality and flexible foreign policy. In the 1980s, it helped organize security meetings in the Persian Gulf, and in the 2010s it hosted secret negotiations over the nuclear deal. Muscat was chosen for talks on the Strait of Hormuz because of the sultanate’s long-standing ties with both sides, its control over the eastern entrance to the strait (the Strait of Hormuz borders Omani territorial waters), and also because Iran does not show hostility toward the sultanate.
Full version: أكسيوس: مقترح هدنة لـ10 أيام بين واشنطن وطهران وخياران لإدارة رسوم هرمز