Qatar and Pakistan have proposed a 10-day cessation of military strikes between the US and Iran, an effort to breathe life back into a 14-point interim accord that was supposed to end hostilities and reopen one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes. The Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly a fifth of the world’s oil passes on any given day, has been the geopolitical equivalent of a pressure cooker since US-Israeli military operations against Iran began in February 2026.
The proposal comes as mediators actively contact officials from both sides to set the table for resumed negotiations.
What the interim deal actually says
The original 14-point interim accord was hammered out around May and June 2026. Its core objectives were straightforward: pause the fighting, reestablish shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, and create a framework for broader negotiations.
Indirect technical discussions have since taken place in Doha and Switzerland, with both tracks reportedly showing signs of positive progress as of late June and early July 2026. Qatari diplomats have made visits to Tehran, and key US figures have been involved in the back-channel process.
