Regional mediators scramble to prevent U.S.-Iran deal from collapsing

Qatar, Pakistan and other regional mediators are trying to de-escalate tensions between the U.S. and Iran and revive negotiations on a nuclear deal, according to two sources from the mediating countries and a U.S. official.

Why it matters: While President Trump announced on Wednesday that the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding (MOU) and the ceasefire were "over" and ordered two rounds of airstrikes, he is focused on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and still wants to avoid a return to an all-out war with Iran.

• The mediators think that, regardless of the recent escalation, the parties made progress toward a nuclear deal in earlier rounds of talks and want to prevent the MOU from collapsing.
• A regional source from one of the mediating countries said the mediators believe the recent Iranian attacks in Hormuz were initiated by elements inside the Iranian regime that oppose the MOU and want to undermine it.

Behind the scenes: Qatari, Pakistani, Turkish, Egyptian and Saudi officials have conducted multiple phone calls on Wednesday with both U.S. and Iranian officials in an effort to calm down the situation, the sources said.

• Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Pakistani military commander Field Marshal Asim Munir that the U.S. attacks and rhetoric were violations of the MOU, according to a statement on his Telegram channel.
• "There are extensive diplomatic efforts to first agree with both sides on de-escalation and then set a date for another round of negotiations between the technical teams," one regional source involved in the mediation said.

State of play: After two days of exchanges of fire between the U.S. and Iran, Thursday was much calmer.

• Despite reports in some Iranian media outlets regarding explosions in southern Iran, U.S. officials said the U.S. military didn't conduct any new strikes on Thursday.
• One U.S. official said it was a result of the de-escalation efforts.

What they are saying: President Trump held a meeting on Thursday afternoon with his top national security team about the tensions with Iran and the way forward.

After the meeting a U.S. official said the Trump administration is "still committed to finding a resolution, and technical-level talks continue" to reach a nuclear deal.

• "President Trump made his feelings very clear yesterday in no uncertain terms. Iran's attacks on these innocent vessels are acts of terrorism. The MOU is performance-based, and Iran's actions constitute failed performance at an unacceptable level", the U.S. official said.