BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 27. International mediators have made progress in efforts to bring the United States and Iran back to the negotiating table after both sides paused military attacks following a period of rapidly escalating regional tensions, according to regional officials.
Two Middle Eastern officials, speaking anonymously to The Associated Press because of the sensitivity of the discussions, said mediators led by Qatar and Pakistan are working to narrow differences between Washington and Tehran.
According to the officials, the immediate objective is to restore an interim ceasefire arrangement that collapsed after two weeks of intense exchanges of fire between the two sides.
The mediation efforts are aimed at creating conditions for renewed diplomatic engagement while preventing another escalation of military confrontation in the region.
Speaking to Fox News on Sunday, US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said President Donald Trump is allowing diplomacy to proceed.
"He's giving talks some space. He's giving it a little bit of room," Waltz said, referring to the administration's approach toward the negotiations.
Although mediators describe the recent contacts as encouraging, officials have not announced any agreement or confirmed when formal negotiations between the United States and Iran could resume.
