Regional mediators have presented the United States and Iran with a proposal for a 10-day ceasefire, Axios reports, citing sources familiar with the discussions.
The proposal was reportedly put forward by Qatar, Egypt, Pakistan and other regional mediators.
Based on the report, US President Donald Trump’s administration is reviewing the proposal and has urged Israel to avoid actions that could “close the diplomatic window.”
At the same time, Washington is preparing for the possibility that negotiations could fail. Axios reports that the US military has deployed dozens of fighter jets and aerial refueling aircraft to the region in recent days, assembling forces capable of responding to a major escalation.
Israeli sources told the outlet that the Israel Defense Forces remain on high alert and are preparing for a possible expansion of the conflict in the coming days into a full-scale, coordinated military campaign.
Axios reports that the proposed ceasefire would halt hostilities, reopen both shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz, and provide Washington and Tehran with an opportunity to salvage their collapsed memorandum of understanding.
A senior US official confirmed to Axios that negotiations are continuing but said President Trump has not yet concluded the US response.
“The president is focused on ensuring Iran pays a price for violating the memorandum and for terrorist acts in the Strait of Hormuz. In addition, the president intends to make Iran pay a price for the deaths of American soldiers. These devastating strikes will continue until the president decides otherwise,” the official said.
Image source: The New Yorker
