Mediators Propose 10-Day Strike Halt to Salvage US-Iran Nuclear Deal
A senior Iranian source says mediators want both sides to pause strikes and return to pre-July 9 positions, lifting risk sentiment and pushing oil prices lower.
Mediators working between Washington and Tehran have formally proposed a 10-day cessation of military strikes as a framework to revive the stalled US-Iran nuclear agreement, a senior Iranian source confirmed Thursday. The proposal calls on both Iran and the United States to revert to the positions each held before July 9, a potential reset that traders quickly interpreted as a de-escalation signal.
Oil markets responded immediately, extending earlier losses as risk sentiment improved on the headline. The move reversed a sharp earlier spike triggered by a Washington Post report alleging the Pentagon was actively expanding its military aircraft presence in the Middle East and that the Trump administration was preparing contingency plans for a broader conflict with Iran.
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Adding diplomatic weight to the proposal, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson confirmed Thursday that mediators have remained active throughout the ongoing conflict, even after the collapse of a prior ceasefire. The spokesperson said Tehran would evaluate any diplomatic path based on its national interests — carefully worded language that stopped short of rejection while leaving the door open for engagement.
Market participants are now watching for formal confirmation from both governments. Analysts note that a verified ceasefire announcement would likely deliver an additional boost to risk assets, as investors would begin pricing in a gradual de-escalation and the possibility of a new, if fragile, memorandum-of-understanding-style arrangement similar to earlier interim agreements between the two countries.
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