As the intensity of confrontations and mutual strikes between the United States and Iran escalates, mediators are stepping up efforts to calm and reduce tensions. Iranian media reported that Pakistan and Qatar proposed a return to the situation before the renewed escalation on July 9 as a first step towards resuming negotiations, while Reuters quoted a senior Iranian official saying that mediators offered Tehran a new proposal for a 10-day 'temporary truce'.

The Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA) reported that Pakistan and Qatar submitted their joint proposal on Monday, while Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghaei referred to 'some ideas that Tehran is working on,' according to the agency.

Baghaei said during a press conference on Monday that mediators had conveyed messages to Tehran over the past few days, but he did not specify the content of these messages.

Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni arrived in Islamabad earlier on Monday, where he is meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistani Army Chief General Asim Munir, and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who are leading Pakistan's mediation efforts in the negotiations.

According to Pakistani officials familiar with the details of the visit, speaking to Al-Sharq, the Iranian interior minister 'continues his engagement in Iranian diplomatic and negotiating efforts.' His participation in high-level consultations has made him an 'influential figure in Tehran's regional diplomacy, adding further significance to his visit to Pakistan.'

The officials considered that 'this emergency visit indicates Iran's desire for a ceasefire.'

Escalation of attacks

US-Iranian attacks have escalated since last week after the collapse of the 'Memorandum of Understanding' concluded last month, aimed at permanently ending the war, while navigation in the Strait of Hormuz has significantly decreased.

The US Central Command said on Monday it carried out a ninth wave of strikes on Iran, targeting 'Iranian military command centers, air defense and coastal surveillance sites, naval capabilities, missile and drone launch sites, and communication networks, in order to further reduce Iran's ability to attack commercial ships and civilian sailors transiting the Strait of Hormuz.'

Iran did not immediately announce the extent of losses, while state media reported hearing explosions in the south and northwest of the country.

US President Donald Trump told reporters Sunday evening: 'We delivered a very strong blow to them again tonight, and we did so in honor of the fallen soldiers.'

Trump added that Iran 'has suffered severe damage and lost almost everything militarily... it has only a little left. It has some missiles, drones, and limited manufacturing capability.'

The US military stated that one of its soldiers was killed in Iraq on Saturday while conducting a 'controlled detonation' of an Iranian drone. This brings the number of US troops killed since the start of the Iran war to 17.

Diplomatic messages

Washington earlier affirmed, through US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, that 'the door for negotiations remains open,' while Tehran considers 'the current conditions unfavorable' for negotiations.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman added that 'Tehran will continue both the war and diplomacy tracks in a manner that serves its national interests,' in response to a question about whether the door for dialogue with the United States has become closed. He continued: 'I reject the duality of either war or diplomacy. Diplomacy is a tool through which we seek to achieve our national interests, just like war.'

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Sunday evening that the United States remains open to a diplomatic solution in Iran. He added in remarks to reporters: 'If that door opens, we will welcome it,' noting that Iran 'is still sending signals that it wants to talk and negotiate.' Rubio considered that the US attacks come 'in response to Iran's behavior, which includes launching missiles and drones against ships' in the Strait of Hormuz.