Mediators see progress in diplomatic efforts to halt Iran war, 2 regional officials say

Business To Business, Dubai, 28^th July, 2026:   Regional mediators have made progress in efforts to bring the United States and Iran back to the negotiating table and avert a wider conflict in the Middle East, two regional officials said on Monday, as a three-day pause in hostilities raised cautious hopes for renewed diplomacy.
Neither the US nor Iran reported carrying out attacks for a third consecutive day, marking the longest lull after nearly two weeks of sustained bombardments that had heightened fears of an all-out war.
The two regional officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the diplomatic efforts, said Qatar and Pakistan are leading mediation initiatives aimed at narrowing differences between Washington and Tehran.
According to the officials, the mediators are seeking to revive an interim ceasefire agreement that had been largely undermined by the recent exchange of military strikes between the two sides.
While the pause in attacks has provided an opening for diplomacy, officials cautioned that negotiations remain delicate and that sustained engagement will be needed to restore the ceasefire framework and prevent a renewed escalation of hostilities.