WASHINGTON: Qatar, Egypt, Pakistan and several other regional mediators have proposed a 10-day ceasefire between the United States and Iran in an effort to ease escalating tensions and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report by Axios.
The report said President Donald Trump has reached a critical juncture in the conflict, with U.S. and Israeli officials believing only two viable options remain: pursuing a new 10-day ceasefire initiative aimed at restoring maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, or launching a major joint military campaign with Israel to pressure Iran into surrendering.
Trump has not made a final decision, Axios reported, citing U.S. officials who said the coming days will determine which path is taken as the prolonged conflict becomes increasingly difficult to sustain.
Two regional sources familiar with the mediation efforts told Axios that Qatar, Egypt, Pakistan and other intermediaries presented the ceasefire proposal to both Washington and Tehran.
US officials said the Trump administration is reviewing the proposal, although neither the United States nor Iran has accepted it. Both sides are reportedly seeking to strengthen their negotiating positions through continued military strikes before considering a ceasefire.
Axios also reported that despite 10 consecutive days of bombing, Iran’s influence over the Strait of Hormuz has not been eliminated, while rising gasoline prices in the United States are fueling growing domestic opposition to the conflict.
According to a regional source, ceasefire efforts were making progress on Saturday before an Iranian missile strike in Jordan killed two U.S. service members, prompting Washington to harden its stance. A senior US official confirmed that diplomatic contacts remain ongoing but said Trump has not yet completed the planned response against Iran, adding that retaliatory operations would continue until the president decides otherwise.
A regional source told Axios that mediators are seeking a durable solution, stressing that while Iran cannot dictate the terms of any agreement, it also cannot be excluded from the process.
