Diplomatic efforts to save a temporary agreement between Iran and the United States intensified on July 21, even as both sides continued attacks on the tenth day of renewed fighting. Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni traveled to Pakistan, a key mediator in the conflict, for talks with military and civilian leaders.
Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with Momeni. Sharif expressed deep concern over rising tensions and urged restraint. Pakistan had helped broker the now-collapsed June agreement that required reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
The United States carried out airstrikes on Iranian military command centers, naval capabilities, and missile sites. Iran retaliated by attacking a tanker in the strait and targeting US allies in the region. Warning sirens sounded in Bahrain and Kuwait as projectiles were detected.
The conflict has severely disrupted global oil supplies. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which carries about one-fifth of the world’s oil, has mostly stopped. Brent crude traded above $90 per barrel, and US gasoline prices hit $4 per gallon, adding financial pressure ahead of midterm elections.
In a separate escalation, Iran-backed Houthi rebels announced a naval blockade in the Red Sea, threatening Saudi oil exports. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington remains open to genuine negotiations, but deep mistrust persists. Iran was unexpectedly attacked in 2025 and again in February while engaged in nuclear talks.
Article source: iraqsun.com | Image credit: PennLive.com
