US President Donald Trump aims to end the current military involvement with Iran as soon as possible, using a combination of pressure and offers to achieve this goal.
According to one analysis, the "carrot" offered by Trump is to spare Iran's power grid and energy industry from further destruction. The "stick" remains the threat of more bombings and even the possibility of a ground intervention.
Meanwhile, Pakistan has said it is ready to host talks between the United States and Iran. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said the country could play a mediating role, at a time when Trump claims there are contacts between Washington and Tehran.
Iran has categorically denied that it is involved in talks with the US, contradicting Trump's statements. However, some American and Israeli media outlets report that Pakistan, Egypt and Turkey have served as mediators between the two sides.
Several diplomatic developments have been confirmed: Pakistan's army chief spoke with Trump on Sunday, while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian the following day. Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar then held separate talks with his Iranian and Turkish counterparts.
Meanwhile, tensions in the region continue. In southern Lebanon, the state news agency reported that Israeli strikes in the Nabatieh area killed several people, including two paramedics carrying out humanitarian work. A drone struck a motorcycle convoy at the entrance to the city, killing two ambulance workers. Less than two hours later, the same location was hit again.
Other drone strikes near the Jbeil–Nabatieh highway killed one person and wounded another, while another strike on the Haboush–Nabatieh road killed a Syrian national. Israeli warplanes also carried out bombing raids in the Nabatieh al-Fawqa area.
