Indirect U.S.-Iran Talks Resume as Mediators Say Progress Made

[Financial News] As armed clashes between the United States and Iran have eased, regional officials said on the 27th (local time) that indirect negotiations between the two sides are making progress, thanks to mediation efforts by Qatar, Pakistan and other countries.
AP reported that after nearly two weeks of tit-for-tat attacks, direct strikes between the two countries have stopped over the past three days, reopening a channel for stalled dialogue.
Anonymous officials from Qatar and Pakistan said the United States and Iran are now working to return to compliance with the temporary ceasefire agreement, adding that there has been clear progress.
Donald Trump said on the previous day aboard Air Force One that Iranian officials had contacted him first to request further talks. He claimed this was because "we hit them very hard." He added, "There is a lot of good dialogue going on right now, and it is likely that something will come of it," but warned that if the talks collapse, "we will simply go back to the military response from two days ago."
Iran, however, denied any direct negotiations and drew a clear line. Esmaeil Baghaei, spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, said at a briefing in Tehran that "messages from the U.S. side can be conveyed through mediators, but there are no direct talks with the United States."
Mediators are currently focusing on ways to manage shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and on restoring a temporary ceasefire, according to reports. Iran and Oman are discussing a mechanism to ensure safe passage and respect for sovereignty in the Strait of Hormuz, but the waterway remains blocked. The U.S. military also said it is continuing its maritime blockade of Iran.
Despite the halt in attacks, tensions in the region remain high. Saudi Arabia announced that it shot down an Iran-backed drone targeting oil facilities in its airspace, while Yemen's Houthi rebels claimed they attacked Saudi oil facilities. In addition, drones were shot down in Jordanian airspace, and drone strikes were carried out against a Kurdish Iranian rebel group in Iraq.

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