Regional mediators push to salvage U.S.-Iran deal

(Barak Ravid – Axios) Qatar, Pakistan and other regional mediators are trying to de-escalate tensions between the U.S. and Iran and revive negotiations on a nuclear deal, according to two sources from the mediating countries and a U.S. official. Why it matters: While President Trump announced on Wednesday that the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding (MOU) and the ceasefire were “over” and ordered two rounds of airstrikes, he is focused on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and still wants to avoid a return to an all-out war with Iran. The mediators think that, regardless of the recent escalation, the parties made progress toward a nuclear deal in earlier rounds of talks and want to prevent the MOU from collapsing. A regional source from one of the mediating countries said the mediators believe the recent Iranian attacks in Hormuz were initiated by elements inside the Iranian regime that oppose the MOU and want to undermine it. Qatari negotiators travelled to Iran on Friday, in coordination with the U.S., to meet with Iranian officials in an effort to de-escalate the situation and create the conditions for negotiations to resume, according to a diplomat with knowledge of the visit. – Regional mediators push to save US-Iran nuclear deal after strikes