Pakistan and Qatar have proposed a 10-day ceasefire aimed at reviving the interim deal between Iran and the US that was struck in June 2026. A senior Iranian official communicated the proposal to Reuters on July 20, 2026, signaling that diplomatic channels remain open even as the broader agreement appears to have lost momentum.
What’s on the table
The proposed 10-day truce is the latest in a series of ceasefire attempts that have defined the Iran-US negotiation cycle over the past year and a half. A two-week ceasefire was first announced on April 8, 2026, with Pakistan serving as the primary mediator. That effort eventually led to an interim deal in mid-June 2026, which included electronic signatures on a memorandum of understanding between the two sides.
That deal, however, appears to have stalled. The new 10-day proposal from Pakistan and Qatar is explicitly designed to restart the process and get both parties back to the negotiating table.
On the US side, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Vice President JD Vance have been involved in the talks at various stages. The negotiation timeline stretching from 2025 to 2026 has included a mix of indirect and direct discussions, asset releases, and attempts to navigate regional complications, including ongoing challenges in Lebanon.
