A breakthrough in mediation efforts between the United States and Iran is expected to be announced this week, sources familiar with the negotiations told The New Arab on Monday, as Qatar and Pakistan continue diplomatic efforts to prevent a renewed war between Washington and Tehran.
Senior sources familiar with the mediation efforts, speaking to The New Arab on condition of anonymity, said negotiations were continuing to narrow differences and encourage mutual concessions aimed at preventing another military confrontation.
Despite ongoing threats exchanged between Washington and Tehran, and concerns that the war with Iran could resume after the US midterm elections on 3 November, the sources ruled out an immediate escalation in the region.
The anticipated breakthrough comes amid mounting tensions over Iran's nuclear programme, the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz and US demands for Tehran to curb its uranium enrichment capabilities.
On Saturday evening, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth warned that Iran would face "destruction" unless it abandoned its nuclear ambitions at the negotiating table.
Speaking at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Hegseth accused Iran of building a "large arsenal" of conventional missiles and attempting to pursue a strategy similar to that of North Korea.
Meanwhile, US embassies across the region have warned of the possibility of rapidly developing security threats, including potential attacks by Iran and its regional allies.
Iran accuses Netanyahu of pushing for another war
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Sunday accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of attempting to drag the United States into another war with Tehran to avoid imprisonment.
Responding to remarks made by Netanyahu about Iran, Araghchi wrote on X that the Israeli leader was "dragging the United States into a new war to avoid going to prison", while disregarding the potential consequences for Israel and the US president.
The Iranian foreign minister also reiterated Tehran's proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days, provided Washington meets several Iranian demands.
These include lifting the blockade on Iranian ports, easing restrictions on Iranian oil exports and halting hostilities across regional fronts.
Araghchi said Tehran had received US feedback on the proposal and was reviewing it, although significant disagreements continued to obstruct progress.
According to Reuters, one of the main sticking points remains Washington's insistence on placing Iran's nuclear programme at the centre of negotiations, including demands for substantial reductions in Tehran's uranium enrichment capabilities.
Iran, however, wants to prioritise reopening the Strait of Hormuz and addressing the economic and security restrictions imposed on the country.
Qatar and Pakistan intensify mediation efforts
Qatar and Pakistan have continued diplomatic efforts to bridge differences between Washington and Tehran, although political and security obstacles have so far prevented an agreement that could end the confrontation and restore regional stability.
The talks come amid growing concerns over the consequences of the Strait of Hormuz remaining closed, with disruptions to shipping and global energy supplies adding urgency to efforts to reach a settlement.
Iran's ISNA news agency reported on Sunday that Pakistan's army chief, Asim Munir, could visit Tehran this week as part of ongoing cooperation between the two countries and discussions concerning regional developments and US-Iran negotiations.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the central issues in the crisis because of its strategic importance to global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.
Reopening the waterway could serve not only as a measure to restore maritime traffic but also as an initial confidence-building step towards reducing tensions and restarting negotiations on broader disputes.
However, Tehran's proposal remains conditional on Washington meeting its demands, while the United States continues to insist that concerns over Iran's nuclear programme must be addressed.
Disagreements over sanctions, the blockade on Iranian ports and mechanisms for ending hostilities across the region also remain unresolved.
The latest mediation efforts therefore present Qatar and Pakistan with a critical challenge of preventing the collapse of diplomatic contacts while securing reciprocal confidence-building measures that could pave the way for broader negotiations on Iran's nuclear programme, sanctions and regional security arrangements.
The sources' assessment that an immediate escalation is unlikely offers a potential opening for diplomacy, despite the continued exchange of threats and the absence of a comprehensive agreement between Washington and Tehran.