Iran appears to have been the party that submitted the proposal for a 10-day ceasefire with the United States — a proposal that is now on the negotiating table through intermediaries, according to sources familiar with the talks cited by the Jerusalem Post. The move signals the intense pressure Tehran is facing as US strikes continue, while Donald Trump is weighing the possibility of returning to a full-scale military campaign against Iran.
Read also: Tensions reach boiling point in the Middle East: Mutual strikes between the US and Iran, State Department on high alert — machinery in full gear for a 10-day ceasefire
According to the same sources cited by the Jerusalem Post, the proposed ceasefire aims to resolve the dispute over the Strait of Hormuz — the flashpoint that triggered the escalation of the crisis following the memorandum of understanding signed last month. After relations between the two countries deteriorated, both Tehran and Washington had effectively declared the agreement null and void.
New dynamics in the US–Iran conflict: The Strait of Hormuz takes center stage — who is leading the mediation efforts
Senior officials from Qatar, Egypt, Oman, and Pakistan have taken on the role of mediators, presenting the proposal to the US and introducing new elements into discussions with both sides. One of the ideas under consideration is the creation of a “middle corridor” through the Strait of Hormuz — situated between waters controlled by Oman and those under Iranian control — to allow commercial vessels to pass safely. However, the US is reportedly pushing for a longer-duration ceasefire.
Washington’s position
At the same time, Washington is insisting that at least some agreements on freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz be reached before any ceasefire is implemented. The remaining details could be negotiated during the proposed 10-day halt in hostilities.
Where Trump is focused — what a US official said
One of the sources cited by the outlet stated that some Trump administration officials described the Iranian proposal as “unreasonable” and “without a logical basis.” A US official told the Jerusalem Post that Donald Trump is focused on ensuring that Iran “pays the price” for violations of the memorandum of understanding and for the deaths of American soldiers.
“The president will also ensure that Iran pays for the recent deaths of American soldiers. These devastating strikes will continue until the president decides otherwise, but talks between the two countries are ongoing,” the official said. Trump is expected to attend a ceremony on Tuesday (July 21) marking the return to the United States of the remains of American service members killed in attacks by Iranian missiles and drones in Jordan and Iraq.
The security meeting convened by Netanyahu and Smotrich’s statement
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened a security meeting on Monday (July 20) that lasted more than five and a half hours, concluding at 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday (July 21). Following the marathon session, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich stated that “the State of Israel has no interest in being drawn into the conflict between Iran and the United States,” adding that “maintaining the status quo is the best option.”
