U.S. and Iran near agreement on ceasefire and Strait of Hormuz access

Gulf officials held phone calls to review bilateral ties and Pakistan’s mediation efforts between the U.S. and Iran. The Qatari Foreign Ministry said the leaders stressed the need for all parties to respond positively to those efforts.

Qatari officials spoke separately with UAE and Saudi counterparts. They discussed ways to support ongoing mediation and reach a lasting peace agreement. Egyptian officials also spoke with Qatari counterparts about the same mediation track. Both sides called for addressing the roots of the crisis through dialogue.

Turkish officials spoke with Iranian counterparts and said they would continue supporting peace talks.

An analyst at the International Crisis Group said the emerging deal would consolidate the ceasefire and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The same analyst said the agreement would defer deeper issues to a 60-day negotiating period. Iranian officials have sought concrete sanctions relief as part of any memorandum of understanding.

U.S. officials have made reopening the Strait of Hormuz a priority. Israeli strikes hit areas in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley after evacuation warnings. Civil defense teams recovered four bodies in southern Lebanon. Iranian officials confirmed the first step toward restoring full internet access after an extended shutdown.