The United States and Iran continue negotiating despite the latest exchange of attacks

BeirutWhile the United States and Iran exchange attacks and threats, Qatari mediators are keeping talks open in Tehran. Barely 48 hours after Donald Trump declared the memorandum of understanding "dead" and ordered new air strikes against Iranian infrastructureIranian infrastructure, the diplomatic channel remains open. In a post on Truth Social, the President of the United States has reflected the instability of the truce: "The Islamic Republic of Iran has asked us to continue the talks. We have agreed, but the United States has clearly told them that the ceasefire is OVER!".

The most serious military escalation since the agreement was reached on June 15 has not buried negotiations, but rather intensified efforts to avoid a regional war. According to diplomatic sources cited by Reuters, a Qatari delegation traveled to Tehran this Friday to try to alleviate tensions and secure the conditions for resuming technical talks between the two countries, with the aim of avoiding the definitive collapse of the ceasefire. But on the ground, the language remains deterrence.

The Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, warned this Friday that any attack on Iranian infrastructure "will receive an equivalent response" and stated that "Israel will not get away with it." The statements come after American attacks on railway bridges and other strategic targets in the south of the country, while Tehran continues to denounce these operations as a violation of international law.

At the same time, the threat in the Persian Gulf continues to set the tone of the crisis. The British agency UK Maritime Trade Operations maintains the highest alert level for navigation, while maritime insurers intensify warnings about the risk of new incidents. In fact, freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz was one of the cornerstones of the memorandum of understanding signed between Washington and Tehran. Iran's desire to continue controlling the strait largely explains Trump's decision to resort to force again.

Thus, the exchange of fire has not been accompanied by a diplomatic rupture. A senior US official cited by Axios states that the Trump administration "remains committed to finding a solution" and confirms that technical teams are maintaining indirect contacts with Iran. In fact, US officials have pointed out that there have been no new attacks in the last few hours, a calm that several mediators attribute to diplomatic efforts led by Qatar, with the support of Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia.

Two parallel strategies

On the military front, both sides seek to demonstrate that they retain the capacity to respond. Washington wants to make it clear that it will not tolerate threats to international navigation or attacks on its interests. Iran, for its part, is trying to avoid military pressure forcing it to negotiate from a position of weakness. On the diplomatic front, however, neither side seems willing to bear the cost of permanently breaking a process they still consider salvageable.

The talks are also influenced by internal tensions in Iran. According to Axios, attacks on maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz may have been instigated by factions of the regime opposed to the memorandum of understanding and determined to derail it. Although this interpretation has not been officially confirmed, it reflects the divisions surrounding the negotiation process.

But the negotiations do not depend solely on Washington and Tehran either. Any agreement will also have to be consistent with the interests of the Gulf monarchies. After years of building their security strategy against Iran, Saudi Arabia and its allies are cautiously observing a possible rapprochement between the two countries.

For now, the bombings have not closed the door to diplomacy. Mediators are trying to keep the dialogue alive while military pressure increases. The question is how long negotiations and military escalation can continue to advance in parallel.