Qatar and Pakistan press to de-escalate as strikes pause

Qatari negotiators traveled to Iran to meet officials in an effort to de-escalate, and President Pezeshkian spoke by phone with Pakistan's prime minister. A U.S. official described Washington's approach as deliberately striking then pausing to let diplomacy work. Iran's chief negotiator said Tehran remained distrustful of the Americans and was ready for all-out defense, insisting the conflict would never end with Iran's surrender.

Why this matters. The mediators are the only thing keeping the June framework alive, but Iran's public defiance and distrust show how little cushion remains before the next shipping incident pulls the sides back into open fighting.